TRANSPORT

M1

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason and at whose expense a wooden fence is being erected adjacent to the southbound carriageway of the M1 motorway near junction 11; and what the total cost is of such work.

John Spellar: The wooden fence is a noise barrier that will be provided next to both carriageways of the motorway through the centre of Luton.
	We announced in March 1999 a new sift criteria to be used when assessing serious noise problems on existing trunk roads together with an annual ring-fenced budget to deal with locations identified.
	The M1 at Luton qualifies as one of the sites under the criteria. The cost of the works is met from the ring-fenced budget which is managed by the Highways Agency. The first phase of the works at Luton will cost £2.6 million. A later phase will extend the barriers on the southern and northern sides of the town. This phase is planned to be undertaken in 2004–05 and will cost a further £2 million.

WALES

Coal Health Claims Monitoring Group

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the work of the Welsh Sub Group of the Coal Health Claims Monitoring Group chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary.

Don Touhig: On the most recent figures I have available, in Wales we have paid £197 million under the respiratory disease scheme and £83 million under the Vibration White Finger Scheme, with full and final payments having been made to 13,762 and 8,632 claimants respectively. In Bridgend over £1.5 million has been paid out in respiratory disease payments and over £760,000 has been paid to Vibration White Finger claimants.
	Despite this significant and welcome progress, much remains to be done. The Government intends to keep up the pressure to get justice for our miners, their widows and their families, and I will continue to make every effort as part of this process. The Welsh Sub Group has seen the major stakeholders in the process working together in a highly constructive way, identifying real improvements to the system which have speeded up payments to miners in Wales and across the UK. It has also provided a model for similar groups across the UK.

Energy Review

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the impact on Wales of the work of the Advisory Board of the Performance and Innovation Unit's Energy Review in the last three years.

Peter Hain: The Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) Energy Review had a Sponsor Minister and Advisory Group. The Wales Office was represented on this group by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales.
	The PIU (now the Strategy Unit) published its energy review in February 2002. This was a key input into the development of the Government's Energy White Paper, which was published last month. The Wales Office was represented at both Ministerial and official level in the production of this key Government statement on the future of Britain's energy policy.
	The Energy White Paper sets out a strategic vision for the development of energy policy across the UK as a whole. It clearly has important implications for Wales, as for other parts of the UK.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry made an excellent statement to launch the White Paper on 24 February which was very clear on the implications for the UK as a whole.
	That said, it is clearly crucial that key players in Wales engage in the delivery of the White Paper objectives. In particular, the White Paper welcomes the development by the National Assembly for Wales of a strategic approach to energy policy as it applies in Wales.

Ministerial Travel

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 22 January 2003 Official Report 334W.

Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion.

Peter Hain: Since my appointment as Secretary of State for Wales in October 2002, I have visited Scotland once, in February 2003.
	In line with exemptions 2 and 7 of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", it is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings or their content, as some of these discussions may have taken place on a confidential basis.

Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make ministerial announcements in April.

Peter Hain: My Department's business during the campaign period preceding elections to the Scottish Parliament will be conducted in accordance with the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in UK Departments in respect of elections to the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.

Tidal Energy

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what appraisal he has made of plans to use tidal lagoons to generate electricity in (a) the Severn estuary and (b) off the north Wales coast; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: I have made no such appraisal, since such matters rest with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
	However, my hon. Friend will know that I am a keen enthusiast for renewable energy. The Severn estuary barrage was one of the issues that the Government examined during its consideration of the Energy White Paper. It is hugely expensive, but there are other opportunities for utilising tidal and wave power. The Welsh coast and the Severn estuary may represent such opportunities.

Wales Office (Complaints)

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many formal complaints he has received about the Wales Office since April 2002.

Peter Hain: No formal complaints have been received.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Act 1955

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to amend the Armed Forces Act 1955.

Adam Ingram: There is no Armed Forces Act 1955. The Army and Air Force Acts of that year and the Naval Discipline Act 1957 have a finite life, and Parliament considers their renewal every five years in the form of an Armed Forces Bill. This is also the main vehicle for amending the 1955 and 1957 Acts. The Armed Forces Act was last renewed in 2001.
	All the procedures covered by the Service Acts are kept under review and it is envisaged that any proposals for further change that may be considered necessary would be included in the Armed Forces Bill due for introduction in the 2005–06 session. We intend to introduce legislation to bring the three separate Acts together into one tri-Service Act, but whether it will be possible to include this in the 2005–06 Bill will depend on the availability of parliamentary time.

Army Recruits

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what phase in Army training a recruit is permitted to handle weapons containing live rounds without supervision; what (a) age and (b) other restrictions limit troops' access to lethal weapons; and in what circumstances an armourer may exercise discretion to refuse the issue of a weapon to a member of Her Majesty's forces.

Lewis Moonie: No recruits in initial training are allowed to handle weapons containing live rounds without supervision. As part of their training, all recruits have access to lethal weapons from the start of phase 1 training; the age limit is therefore effectively 16. However, all such recruits are fully supervised whilst handling such weapons. Within the Army, an Arms Storeman will refuse the issue of a weapon to a soldier if he or she is unaccompanied by a supervising NCO or if the weapon has not been ordered for training.

European Defence Co-operation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to work with other European nations on the development of an unmanned aerial vehicle; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: United Kingdom unmanned aerial vehicles are being pursued through two programmes: Watchkeeper, which plans to deliver a tactical UAV in 2006; and the Future Offensive Air System (FOAS) programme within which we are assessing the feasibility of UAVs contributing to our future strike capability from about 2020 onwards. There are no plans to work with other European nations on the development of Watchkeeper, although we do share information regarding the acquisition, operation and support of UAV systems with a number of European countries. The FOAS programme plans to carry out some technology demonstration work within a six-nation collaborative European Technology Acquisition Programme comprising France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

External Reports

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department in each year since 1997.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Halo Mk2 will be ready for use in war in Iraq; how the re-engineered hardware and new software for the Mk2 will improve its capability; how much the improvements have cost; whether this was within original estimates; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Halo Mk2 sound ranging system, procured to meet the Army's Advanced Sound Ranging Programme requirement, is deployed with British Forces in the Gulf. The Mk2 system is more capable than the Mkl in a number of ways, including: improved accuracy in locating potential targets; a faster response time and more robust hardware. The cost of this programme was around £17 million which was within the original approval limit.

Iraq

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK forces and which regiments have been sent to the Gulf.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 24 March 2003
	Around 45,000 United Kingdom Servicemen and women from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force have been deployed in the Gulf and Middle East region. Statements regarding the composition of the UK Forces deployed to the region were made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 7 January 2003, Official Report, columns 23–39, 20 January 2003, Official Report, columns 34–35, 6 February 2003, Official Report, columns 455–66 and 13 March 2003, Official Report, column 20WS.
	The composition of the Land Forces was described in my letter D/Min(AF)/AI PQ 1093N/03/C of February 2003, in response to a written Parliamentary Question from the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin), Official Report, column 860W, regarding UK military forces' Gulf deployment, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House. Since this time, the 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment and 202 Field Hospital (Volunteer) have been added to the complement.

Iraq

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are in place to enable British armed forces to provide humanitarian aid to Iraq if the situation is too insecure for civilian agencies to operate.

Adam Ingram: United Kingdom forces, as part of the coalition, will, where they are able, deliver emergency humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq until the post-conflict security situation stabilises sufficiently for civilian agencies to deploy. Such assistance would include provision of drinking water, food, shelter, and medical supplies. Preparations for this role have taken place with the assistance of experts from the Department for International Development.

Maritime Training

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy vessels are available for maritime training; and if he will make a statement on the effect of Operation Fresco on the availability of vessels.

Adam Ingram: As at week commencing 24 March there are nine Destroyers and Frigates and one submarine programmed to undertake maritime training. This includes Operational Sea Training, Syllabus training and Weapon training.
	The firefighters' dispute has slightly reduced the throughput of Naval vessels through Collective Sea Training and this will result in an increased demand for collective training in 2003.

Middle East

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the United States on the use of British forces in a peace keeping role under NATO as part of the road map for peace in the Middle East.

Geoff Hoon: I have had no such discussions.

Procurement

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the next stage of the Watchkeeper programme to be completed; and if he expects the programme to remain within the estimated budget.

Adam Ingram: The next stage of the Watchkeeper programme, the Systems Integration and Assurance Phase, is estimated to be completed before the end of January 2004. One of the outputs of this phase will be to refine the level of funding required to procure the Watchkeeper capability. We currently expect the programme to remain affordable.

Radar Capabilities

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what shortfalls he has identified in the UK's radar capabilities; and what plans he has to (a) replace and (b) increase the radar capabilities.

Adam Ingram: We plan to replace existing Type 93 air defence radars with more modern equipment when they reach the end of their service lives around the middle of this decade. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in the White Paper on the SDR new chapter in July last year, we are taking forward a range of enhancements to our air defence radar systems to improve our air defence capability. I am withholding details under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Reservoir Security

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to use HM forces to ensure the security of water reservoirs against the threat of terrorist attack.

Adam Ingram: There is no specific threat to reservoirs from terrorist. Were there to be, it would be managed by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who have policy responsibility for water supplies and the police who are responsible for public safety and security in the United Kingdom. The Ministry of Defence will provide support to the police should they require it.

Satellite Communications

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the new satellite communications radomes to enter service; if they will enter service within the Ministry of Defence's proposed timetable; and if he expects the radomes to remain within the estimated budget.

Adam Ingram: Fifteen new satellite communications radomes were delivered in January 2003 and are now in service. The cost of the radomes is within budget.

Satellite Communications

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent increases have taken place in the UK's satcom capabilities; and what further increases he has planned.

Adam Ingram: A range of mobile and portable satcom terminal equipment has been deployed recently to improve the capacity of available communications to deployed units on operations.
	As regards further increases, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 February 2003, Official Report, column 748W, outlining the significant increase in our satellite communications capability that Skynet 5 will provide.

VX Gas

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the shelf life of VX gas is; and what the rate is of natural degradation of VX gas where VX-stabiliser is used.

Lewis Moonie: The stability of VX depends very much on its initial purity, the use of the appropriate stabilisers and the precise storage conditions utilised. Its shelf life as a chemical warfare agent can range from a few months to several tens of years. It should be noted that even partially degraded material may still pose a significant hazard.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

British Energy

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 18 March 2003, Official Report, column 685, on British Energy, whether any of the credit facility announced in her written statement of 7 March 2003, Official Report, column 89WS, can be used to finance the cost of installing flue gas de-sulphurisation at Eggborough Power Station.

Brian Wilson: The extended and amended credit facility is provided to British Energy on a contingency basis in respect of its working capital requirements and cash collateral for its trading activities. Specific contracts are a commercial matter for the company. Any application for drawing on the facility would be assessed on its merits subject to meeting the purposes for which funding can be made available from the credit facility.

Broadband

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the likely economic impact on rural small businesses that are unable to access broadband in the next three years.

Stephen Timms: No such assessment has been made.

Broadband

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the economic impact of broadband access for small businesses in Suffolk.

Stephen Timms: No such assessment has been made within the Department.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the outstanding contingent liabilities of the Export Credits Guarantee Department; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: As at the end of February 2003, ECGD had outstanding contingent liabilities of £14,576 million.

Generic Drugs

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) negotiations on access to generic drugs for developing countries; and if she will make a statement on the Government's position on current TRIPS negotiations.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 25 March 2003
	The Government is working, with its EU partners, towards agreement in the WTO on an effective solution to the problems faced by developing countries with no or insufficient manufacturing capacity in the pharmaceutical sector in making effective use of compulsory licensing under the TRIPS Agreement.
	Within the EU, we have taken a flexible and constructive approach to the current TRIPS negotiations and public health. Our aim has always been to find a solution that responds to the need for countries to have recourse when necessary to compulsory licensing, while not undermining the wider intellectual property framework that is essential for research into new medicines. Discussions came close to agreement late last year on the basis of a compromise text circulated before Christmas. We are working to secure agreement before the next WTO Ministerial meeting in Cancun in September.

Pharmacies

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the recent Office of Fair Trading report containing proposals to abolish the control of entry regulations for pharmacies.

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of possible losses to the small business sector arising from the Office of Fair Trading report on pharmacies.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 24 March 2003
	The Government is committed to ensuring all sectors are responsive to consumer needs, getting rid of unnecessary regulations that inhibit innovation. The Enterprise Act will strengthen the role of the competition authorities in tackling markets that do not work well for consumers and business. The OFT report provided a useful analysis of the market impact of the current control of entry regulations on consumers and competition and highlights the need for the present regime governing pharmacies to be updated. We have already taken steps to open up the pharmacy market by allowing for mail order and internet pharmacies. At the same time, the Government wants to see an increased role for community pharmacists in providing services to NHS patients and we are currently developing a new contractual framework to make that happen.
	The Government needs to take into account wider policy objectives in responding to the OFT report. It argues for abolition of entry controls on the grounds that there would be consequent benefits for consumers in terms of reduced prices, improved quality of services and better access. We strongly support these objectives. We want to improve access and choice (including improving out-of-hours access for NHS patients) so that more NHS patients can use the skills of community pharmacists, who are trained clinicians, for advice, information and services. The OFT report also noted that in a more competitive environment problems could arise through the possible effect of deregulation on the ability of patients in some areas to access high quality pharmacy services, and that these problems could be addressed through targeted measures. It was not in the OFT's remit to examine how mechanisms such as the Essential Small Pharmacies Scheme could be developed to address a more competitive environment, and we therefore propose to examine these issues further before reaching a final decision on a balanced package which most effectively promotes competition, new entry and increased choice alongside our wider social and health objectives.
	We therefore favour change to open up the market and improve quality and access without diminishing the crucial role that pharmacies play, especially in poorer and rural areas. The Government intends to come forward with proposals before the summer recess and will publish a progress report at the end of June. All changes will then be the subject of a full consultation.
	The OFT report raises particular issues for the devolved administrations and they are making their own announcements today regarding their responses to the OFT recommendations.
	The OFT's work on this area has taken forward our understanding of the impact on quality, innovation and consumer choice of the existing entry controls. Their regulatory challenge function is an important one. We look forward to receiving further reports on markets where regulation may be distorting competition.
	As part of our work moving forward we will consider the impact of any changes on all sectors of the pharmacy market, including small businesses.

Post Office

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to require all proposals by the Post Office for branch closures which are opposed by Postwatch to be referred to Ministers before a final decision is taken.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 25 March 2003
	Decisions on post office closures and relocations are an operational matter for the company. It would be inappropriate for the Government to intervene in determining individual closures. That has been the policy of successive Governments since 1969 when the Post Office was established as a statutory public corporation.
	In accordance with the existing Code of Practice on Post Office Closures and Relocations—agreed between Postwatch and Post Office Ltd—Postwatch are consulted on every post office closure proposal before a decision can be made.

Post Office

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will require the Post Office to comply with the request of Postwatch to publish the full plans for the future of post office outlets in Christchurch and Plymouth.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 25 March 2003
	There is no predetermined list or arithmetical formula being used to determine how many offices will close in any given area.
	In accordance with the existing Code of Practice on Post Office Closures and Relocations—agreed between Postwatch and Post Office Ltd—Postwatch are consulted on every post office closure proposal before a decision can be made. It is for Post Office Ltd and Postwatch to consider whether any wider background information relevant to closure proposals under the urban reinvention programme could be provided.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Batteries (Recycling)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of batteries were recycled in each year since 1997.

Michael Meacher: At present precise data demonstrating a yearly percentage of batteries recycled in the UK is unavailable, although it is estimated that approximately 90 per cent. of automotive batteries, 25 per cent. of nickel cadmium industrial batteries, 90 per cent.of lead acid industrial batteries and less than 1 per cent. of household batteries are recycled.
	There is data available on the tonnages on batteries collected for recycling by local authorities, as reported in the Department's Annual Municipal Waste Management Survey (MWMS). However, the percentage of batteries recycled cannot be measured, as the tonnages of disposed batteries are unknown.
	It should be noted that MWMS has only reported on batteries that surveyed Local Authorities collect for recycling, and it is known that there is a considerable amount of private recycling undertaken, especially car batteries, that is not recorded.

Batteries (Recycling)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the environmental consequences of the disposal of batteries.

Michael Meacher: No specific assessment has been undertaken in the UK on the environmental consequences of battery disposal. However, the European Commission recently published a consultation document, on the proposed Batteries Directive, stating that 'batteries were an important source of emissions of heavy metals which cause environmental damage.'
	A Government study (November 2000) 'Analysis of the Environmental Impact and Financial Costs of a Possible New European Directive on Batteries' concluded that as collection and recycling rates increase, heavy metals in batteries are progressively diverted from the municipal waste stream, thus preventing leaching of hazardous substances into the environment.

Biofuels

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions have been held between her Department and the Treasury regarding the impact of duty on the use of biofuels.

Michael Meacher: The reduction in the duty rate for biodiesel, introduced last July, has already brought forward production from recycled vegetable oil. Around 100 filling stations in the UK are already retailing biodiesel. The Government have also indicated they will reduce the duty rate for bioethanol and that they intend to announce the implementation date in the Budget. We continue to have discussions with the Treasury about these matters.

Civil Contingency Planning

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's (a) responsibilities and (b) assets with regard to civil contingency planning; what funds are committed; what action she is taking within her Department to improve such planning; and what action she is taking in collaboration with other departments.

Alun Michael: The information is as follows:
	(a) I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 21 March 2003, Official Report, columns 957–58W.
	(b) Defra is heavily engaged in the central Government programme to improve civil contingency planning, especially in areas relating to our Departmental responsibilities. Planning is developed and agreed with stakeholders, both in government and industry, to ensure that the UK's resilience to emergencies of all kinds is improved. It is not possible to identify separately the funds committed to civil contingency planning which is seen as part of normal business.

Civil Service Travel

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grades in the Civil Service in her Department are allowed to travel by air (a) first class and (b) business class at public expense when on official duties.

Alun Michael: An individual's entitlement to a particular class of travel is currently denoted by their grade and the length of the given flight. However, in keeping with the Civil Service Management Code, staff must use the most efficient and economic means of travel taking into account any management benefit or the needs of staff with disabilities. Within this framework the main entitlements are:
	Directors and above: may travel first class if the journey is over 2.5 hours where there is no business class available. All other journeys should be undertaken at business class.
	Other staff: may travel business class for journeys over 2.5 hours. For journeys under 2.5 hours individuals should travel economy class.

Coastal Erosion

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had with North Norfolk District Council about coastal erosion and coastal defence.

Margaret Beckett: The Department's Regional Engineer at Lincoln has discussions with North Norfolk District Council as and when required about the Council's plans for flood and coastal Defence works and studies, and other local coastal issues.

Departmental Website

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost of her Department's website was in the last 12 months; and how many hits it received in the same period.

Alun Michael: The Defra website (www.defra.gov.uk) is hosted internally. Annual operating costs for hosting the site over the last 12 months were £297,000.
	Staff costs for the central team responsible for updating and maintaining the content of the site for the last 12 months were £326,000.
	Figures for web traffic on www.defra.gov.uk are given in the following table:
	
		12 month period March 2002 to February 2003
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Total hits 132,335,901 
			 Page impressions 52,982,067 
			 Unique visits 1,529,486

Energy Efficiency

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how her Department proposes to implement the European Directive on the energy performance of buildings with reference to domestic properties; what guidance will be issued to private and social landlords on complying with the requirements of the directive; and what contribution the directive will make to achieving the Government's objective of ending fuel poverty by 2016.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends that where homes are marketed for sale with a home information pack, the Directive will be implemented by requiring that the pack includes an energy report that complies with the requirements for an energy performance certificate. We are considering what legal instruments and guidance are required to ensure that private and social landlords comply with the Directive. Improving the energy performance of our housing stock will complement the activities already under way to tackle fuel poverty and make a positive contribution to our objective of ending fuel poverty by 2016.

Environment Council

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the position she adopted in respect of GMOs at the meeting of the Environment Council on 4 March, with particular reference to separation distances.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 19 March 2003
	The Government agrees with the European Commission that there is a need to address at Community level the issue of co-existence between GM and non-GM crops, including the possible use of separation distances.

Envirowise

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department provides for Envirowise.

Michael Meacher: In the current financial year the Department is providing £2.7 million towards the Envirowise programme, which promotes advice and best practice to business to prevent waste, reduce pollution and make the most effective use of resources. The programme is jointly sponsored with the Department of Trade and Industry: total funding for the current financial year is £5.4 million.

GM Foodstuffs

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Minister has responsibility for genetically modified food products.

Michael Meacher: Within Defra Lord Whitty is the Minister responsible for sustainable farming and the food industry. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the responsible UK authority for evaluating GM foods and food products derived from GMOs under the relevant European Union legislation. The FSA are accountable to Parliament through health ministers and to the Devolved Administrations.
	My responsibilities relate to the environmental aspects of the deliberate release of GM organisms into the environment, including licensing of GMOs.

Mineral Water Bottles

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the percentage of (a) plastic and (b) glass bottles which have contained mineral water which have been recycled in each year since 1992.

Michael Meacher: The information requested is not held by the Department at present. However, we have contacted the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) and I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Nuclear Power

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of Nirex.

Michael Meacher: The long-term future of Nirex will be settled as part of the process of making decisions on managing the UK's radioactive waste and the wider nuclear legacy. We are discussing with colleagues how these issues, including the future status of Nirex or a successor organisation, can be best determined.

Nuclear Power

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what developments have taken place towards the creation of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management; what steps have been made to engage stakeholders in the preparatory process; and whether the terms of reference for the Committee have been finalised;
	(2)  what criteria were used in choosing those invited to the meeting held in Manchester in March to discuss the way forward for the new Committee on Radioactive Waste Management; which consultants were used to organise the meeting; and whether the consultants were chosen by competitive tender.

Michael Meacher: We shall be advertising in the press from today to seek applications from people willing to serve on the new Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), which will be responsible for delivering recommendations to UK Government and the devolved administrations on the best means of managing the UK's radioactive wastes over the longer term under the "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely" programme. CoRWM's terms of reference have been finalised and are as follows.
	Terms of Reference for the Members of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM)
	Objectives
	1. CoRWM is appointed jointly by Ministers of the UK Government and devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, to oversee a review of options for managing solid radioactive waste in the UK and to recommend the option, or combination of options, that can provide a long-term solution, providing protection for people and the environment. This follows the announcement by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to the UK Parliament, and by devolved administrations, on 29 July 2002.
	2. CoRWM must ensure that this review of options is carried out in an open, transparent and inclusive manner. The process of review must engage members of the UK public, and provide them with the opportunity to express their views. Other key stakeholder groups with interests in radioactive waste management, must also be provided with opportunity to participate. The objective of CoRWM's programme is to arrive at recommendations which can inspire public confidence and are practicable in securing the long-term safety of the UK's radioactive wastes. It must therefore listen to what people say during the course of its work, and address the concerns that they raise.
	3. CoRWM will have a corporate responsibility to deliver its recommendations to sponsoring Ministers in accordance with agreed work plans. It must aim to supply recommendations to them no later than the end of 2005, and sooner if possible. It will be for Ministers, with appropriate reference to their respective Parliaments and Assemblies to decide future policy for the long-term management of the UK's solid radioactive waste and to make arrangements for its implementation.
	Committee characteristics
	4. Size of the Committee. CoRWM will consist of a Chair, and 12 Members which will include a Deputy Chair.
	5. Composition of the Committee. CoRWM will include people with a range of expertise: people with a perspective of environmental, health, social or ethical issues, as well as people with technical experience and expertise in radioactive waste matters. Ministers hope to find these skills and perspectives: radioactive waste, nuclear materials and how they can be managed; regulation of UK processes that give rise to radioactive waste; public engagement, consensus building and resolving conflict on contentious issues; applying ethical principles to scientific and technical decision-making; national and international environmental law; scientific and technical issues such as earth science, materials and their properties, and civil engineering; radiation protection principles and their implementation; radionuclides and how they affect the environment; environmental, health and safety issues and how they interact and conflict.
	6. All members will need to be effective team workers, with good analytical skills and good judgment besides a strong interest in the process of decision-making on difficult issues. A number of them will need experience of managing complex projects, drawing on public and stakeholder group involvement and discussion, excellent drafting and communication skills, or business experience and knowledge of economics.
	7. The Chair, in addition, will be capable of successfully and objectively leading committee-based projects, grasping complex technical issues, managing a diverse organisation effectively and delivering substantial results, presenting progress and outcomes in public, a person with appropriate stature and credibility.
	8. Access to other sources of expertise. CoRWM itself will have to decide how best to secure access to other appropriate sources of expert input during the course of its work. Within this, it will have the option of setting up expert sub-groups containing both Members of CoRWM itself and other appropriate co-opted persons. A member of CoRWM will chair any sub-group of this nature and ensure its effective operation, as well as provide a clear line of responsibility and accountability to the main Committee, and hence to Ministers. This approach will enable them to draw on a broad range of expertise in the UK and elsewhere.
	9. The number of such sub-groups will be kept to the minimum necessary. Their role will be that of providing advice for the main Committee to consider and assess as it sees fit, and managing any activity which CoRWM delegates to them. It will be for the main Committee to assess and decide upon the advice it receives from such sub-groups. CoRWM may also utilise other appropriate means of securing expert input, such as sponsored meetings and seminars. The Chair will ensure that sub-group work and all other activities are closely integrated with the Committee and with one another.
	10. Length of appointment. Initial appointments will be for three years. Sponsoring Ministers retain the right to terminate appointments at any time in light of individual members' performance appraisal, changes in CoRWM's work requirements, or completion of the work required of CoRWM.
	Programme of work
	11. CoRWM's objective is to recommend to Ministers the best option, or combination of options for managing the UK's solid radioactive waste that can provide a long-term solution, providing protection for people and the environment. The UK's waste inventory contains, or will contain, a wide range of high and low activity, short and long lived wastes. CoRWM's priority task is to recommend what should be done with the wastes for which no long-term management strategy currently exists—that is, high and intermediate level waste now in storage or likely to arise over the next century or two, and some low level waste unsuitable for disposal at Drigg. However, for some of these wastes, the Nirex "Letter of Comfort" system has provided a framework which has enabled helpful progress to be made on conditioning and packaging. (Ministers have other sources of advice on other wastes for which a long term management strategy already exists but where there may be long or shorter term issues needing attention. CoRWM may wish to offer advice on these issues but this should not divert it from its priority task set out above.)
	12. CoRWM will take a strategic approach to the review and assessment of options for the long term management of radioactive waste. It will start by gathering information and familiarising itself with the issues, including meetings and presentations as appropriate. The outline framework within which CoRWM is then expected to complete its work is:
	(i) setting the framework for the review through identification, on the basis of sounding public and stakeholder views, of:
	the inventory of materials to be covered (this will include not only the materials currently classified as waste liable to arise over the next century or so but also materials which may have to be managed as waste during that period, such as some plutonium and uranium as well as certain quantities of spent nuclear fuel);
	the options for the long-term management of the various waste materials; and
	the criteria against which each of the options being carried forward to the main assessment are to be assessed. (These criteria are likely to be wide-ranging, reflecting among other things, the potential risks involved, concerns been expressed by the public and stakeholders, and practicability of implementing each option.)
	CoRWM should take the earliest possible opportunity to identify those options which have no realistic prospect of being implemented within the reasonably foreseeable future, so that the main effort during the assessment stage can be focused on those which are practicable.
	(ii) implementation of the review. This will involve evaluation of each of the remaining options, for each of the wastes concerned, against the agreed set of criteria. The assessment will take account of existing information and any new research that CoRWM judges necessary. An initial assessment report will be produced by CoRWM and subjected to appropriate soundings of public and stakeholder group views. A final version will then be produced taking due account of the views expressed.
	(iii) formulation of recommendations. The final assessment report will be used to formulate Committee recommendations to its sponsoring Ministers. We also anticipate that, during the course of its work, CoRWM will have acquired views relevant to subsequent stages of the policy programme. For example, the assessment of options will not consider potential radioactive waste sites; but it will raise sitting issues—including whether local communities should have a veto or be encouraged to volunteer, and whether they should be offered incentives. CoRWM will need to consider these issues, and may want to make recommendations to Ministers on them.
	Formulation and agreement of work programme
	13. CoRWM will prepare a detailed draft work programme, within this outline framework, that will enable it to deliver its recommendation to Ministers within the required timescales. The programme will include any proposed sub-groups or other activities or events that are likely to involve significant time and effort by the Committee. CoRWM will send this draft work programme to its sponsoring Ministers for discussion and agreement at an appropriate early stage of its work. Such discussion may lead to appropriate adjustment and refinement. In considering this programme, CoRWM and sponsoring departments and Ministers will be able to take account of the parallel work with Government in this area.
	14. In familiarising itself with the relevant background and issues, CoRWM will make itself aware of the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory and the nature of current and expected future UK holdings of plutonium, uranium and spent nuclear fuel. It will take account of existing technical assessments and research into radioactive waste management, and reports arising out of the Defra and devolved administrations public consultation on radioactive waste. It will work closely with Nirex and other organisations with relevant experience and expertise. CoRWM is also recommended to meet and take presentations from appropriate key-player organisations and to visit a selection of key UK and, possibly, other European nuclear sites. It will also take a account of other relevant policy developments, including the UK energy review. In particular, it is recognised that CoRWM will need to engage with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and it's predecessor, the Liabilities Management Unit, given that the former's output will directly impinge on the long-term responsibilities of the NDA.
	15. CoRWM is recommended to aim to complete its first phase (familiarisation work and proposals for the waste inventory, the waste management options, and the criteria to be used in their assessment) after about a year from the date of its appointment. It is thereafter recommended to aim for completion and reporting of the assessment work itself (the second phase) after about a further year. Provision of recommendations to sponsoring Ministers would follow as soon as possible after that.
	16. CoRWM should indicate the timing proposed for its work in the draft work programme sent for discussion with sponsoring Ministers. The intent is that CoRWM's recommendations should be delivered around the end of 2005. If the Chair anticipates that CoRWM will be late in completing any current phase or overall delivery of its work programme, he or she should inform the sponsoring Ministers as soon as possible, together with an indication of whether and how the committee can catch up during any subsequent phases of its programme. CoRWM will agree with Ministers how to proceed so as to be able to carry its programme forward.
	Public engagement
	17. CoRWM must inspire public confidence in the way in which it works, in order to secure such confidence in its eventual recommendations. Hence, its work should be characterised by:
	a transparency policy;
	an active programme of public and relevant stake holder group debate, using innovative appropriate techniques to ensure public involvement and support;
	encouraging people to ask questions or make their views known, listening to their concerns, ensuring that they are addressed and that people get a response;
	public meetings and other consultative processes, well advertised in advance and involving a variety of interested stakeholders including members of the public;
	holding a significant number of its own meetings in public;
	clear communications including the use of plain English;
	making information accessible to as many people as possible, including use of the internet, as well as ways of reaching people who do not use the internet; and
	providing opportunities for people to challenge information, for example by giving them access to alternative sources of information and points of view.
	Chair
	18. The Chair will be responsible for supervising the work of CoRWM and ensuring that its objectives are achieved. He or she will be the main point of contact with the public and the media, in presenting progress and answering questions. The Chair will meet Ministers on appointment, and then six-monthly to report progress. Notes of these meetings will be published. The Chair will provide an annual written report to Ministers, by 1 December, which he/she may be required to present to Parliament or Assembly representatives as appropriate. The report will set out, among other things, CoRWM's work programme, progress made, and costs incurred. Ministers will also appoint a Deputy Chair who can assist the Chair as the latter sees fit.
	Members
	19. Members will work, under the Chair's supervision, to the programme agreed with sponsoring Ministers so as to ensure its satisfactory delivery. Members will have a collective responsibility to ensure achievement of CoRWM's overall mission. It is not envisaged that Committee Members themselves will be responsible for day-to-day work activities but rather in deciding what these should be, overseeing their delivery, and reviewing and being responsible for the reports and other output delivered under CoRWM's name. Individual Members may be appointed by the Chair to undertake specific, active roles, for example chairing sub-groups or in representing CoRWM in meetings with the public, organisations who are contributing to the work, or the media. All Members will be subject to individual performance appraisal as laid down by the Cabinet Office guide (see next paragraph).
	Standards
	20. CoRWM is set up by, and answerable to Ministers and is funded by the taxpayer. It must therefore comply with the Cabinet Office guide "Non-Departmental Public Bodies—a Guide for Departments".
	21. These and other relevant procedural requirements, including working to standards laid down by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, are set out in the "Code of practice for members of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management" to which Members will agree prior to appointment.
	Resources
	22. Sponsoring Ministers will provide CoRWM with resources—both staff and financial—to enable it to carry out its agreed programme of work. These will include a secretariat which will help CoRWM carry out its programme including, at the outset, providing reading material and arranging for further briefings and visits. The Chair and Members will have a collective responsibility for delivering the work programme within the agreed budget, although the Chair may request sponsoring Ministers for adjustment to this budget should this be considered necessary.
	Payments
	23. The Chair and Members will be paid for their work for CoRWM. They will also be fully reimbursed for all reasonable travel and subsistence costs incurred during the course of their work.
	These terms of reference and other relevant information concerning CoRWM will be included in information packs for prospective applicants. Copies of this material will also be published on the Defra website and placed in the Library of the House.
	Under its terms of reference, CoRWM will be required to engage the public and stakeholder groups widely in the formulation of its recommendations. The Committee will itself decide how best to do this. However, to provide some initial ideas for CoRWM to consider, a workshop involving about 50 persons with relevant expertise of public and stakeholder engagement processes was held in Manchester on 10–11 March 2003. University College London were appointed on a single tender basis to run the workshop. Their report of the workshop and its outcome will be published.

Waste Arisings

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking (a) to reduce waste arisings and (b) to facilitate the re-use of such arisings from the (i) agriculture, (ii) mining and quarrying, (iii) commercial and (iv) demolition and construction sectors.

Michael Meacher: Government are taking a number of steps aimed at reducing waste arisings and increasing re-use.
	In agriculture, we have set up the Agricultural Waste Stakeholders' Forum to inform the development of the Regulations for applying the Waste Framework Directive to agricultural waste. The Forum's terms of reference include identifying and encouraging opportunities to reduce the production of agricultural waste and are available at http://www.defra.qov.uk/environment/waste/aqforum/index.htm
	Re-use of construction and demolition waste, and some types of mineral waste that can be substituted for newly won aggregates, will be encouraged through exemption from the Aggregates Levy which was introduced on 1 April 2002 at a rate of £1.60 per tonne for virgin aggregates. The Levy also encourages economy of use and less waste of aggregates at construction sites. Some funding from the Levy has also been set aside to fund projects which aim to minimise the demand for primary aggregates.
	On commercial waste, Defra jointly with DTI, funds the Envirowise programme which provides free independent help and advice on environmental issues, resource efficiency and sustainable business solutions to UK companies. Waste minimisation and effective resource management are central to its aims. It is based on the principle that good environmental sense makes good business sense, and that companies can save money through resource efficiencies. Launched in 1994, Envirowise delivers its messages principally via a freephone national Helpline; On-site Resource Efficiency visits to small and medium sized enterprises by a Helpline advisor; training events; a website; and the dissemination of case studies and good practice guides. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) also includes removing the barriers to waste minimisation and re-use as part of its mission.
	The Strategy Unit's report 'Waste Not, Want Not' made a number of recommendations on waste minimisation and re-use. The government is considering its response to these recommendations, which it aims to publish around the time of the Budget.

Written Questions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many named day written questions were tabled to the Department between 15 October 2002 and 24 February 2003; how many that received a holding answer were given a substantive answer (a) within three days, (b) within seven days, (c) within 14 days, (d) within 28 days and (e) over 28 days later; and what procedures the Department has in place to monitor performance on answering (i) parliamentary questions and (ii) ministerial letters.

Alun Michael: The information on Named Day questions for the period 15 October 2002 to 24 February 2003 is as follows.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Total number of Named Day questions 524 
			 Number of questions answered:  
			 on the Named Day 181 
			 within three business days 193 
			 within seven business days 94 
			 within 14 business days 19 
			 within 28 business days 2 
			 over 28 business days 0 
			 Number of questions wrongly tabled to Defra and transferred to other departments for answer 35 
		
	
	The Departments' PQ Database allows us to track the progress of questions from the time they are received in the Department until they are answered.
	The Cabinet office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on performance of Departments in replying to ministerial correspondence. The report for 2001 was published on 24 May 2002, Official Report, column 674W. The report for 2002 will be published in due course.

PRIME MINISTER

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the situation in Iraq.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House on 24 March, and the answers I gave at Prime Minister's Questions today.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his statement of 18 March 2003, Official Report, columns 761–62, on the information provided by Hussein Kamal on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, if he will place in the Library the text of the interview.

Tony Blair: Following his defection, Hussein Kamal was interviewed by UNSCOM and by a number of other agencies. Details concerning the interviews were made available to us on a confidential basis. The UK was not provided with transcripts of the interviews.

Iraq

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what steps the Government has taken to (a) minimise environmental damage and (b) enable the repair of environmental damage caused by the war in Iraq.

Tony Blair: One of the Government's military campaign objectives is to secure the economic infrastructure of Iraq from sabotage and wilful destruction by the Iraqi regime. The securing of the southern oilfields so early in the military campaign is a significant achievement, preventing Saddam from repeating the environmental pollution he caused in 1991.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Solicitor-General, pursuant to her answer of 17 March 2003, Official Report, columns 515–16, on Iraq, whether the Attorney-General provided the information contained in paragraphs 1 to 7 on his legal note on "Iraq: Legal Basis for the Use of Force", to the United Kingdom Ambassador to the United Nations in advance of Sir Jeremy Greenstock's remarks to the United Nations Security Council on UNSC Resolution 1441 (2002) on 8 November 2002.

Harriet Harman: There is a longstanding convention observed by successive Government that the fact of and substance of advice which the Law Officers may have given to Government is not publicly disclosed. This enables the Government, like everyone else, to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence. The Attorney General gave a written answer on 17 March in the House of Lords which set out his view of the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq. However, the convention against disclosure of Law Officers' advice still applies in relation to advice which the Law Officers give within Government.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Iraq

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the use of NGOs to distribute British aid in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Clare Short: The humanitarian strategy for Iraq is firstly to ensure that the military are able to provide support in the areas they occupy then, as quickly as possible, to ensure that, the UN system returns and that Oil for Food is re-established.
	The reinstatement of Oil for Food is crucial since 16 million Iraqis rely on it. The traditional role of NGOs in post-conflict situations is to help deliver emergency services at community level using supplies provided by the UN system. There are strong Iraqi organisations delivering services for the Oil for Food programme. International NGOs will have a role to play but obviously it is better to employ Iraqi organisations wherever possible.

Iraq

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on humanitarian relief for Iraq.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her contingency plans to work with UK and international NGOs to help relieve the humanitarian situation in Iraq.

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Iraq.

Clare Short: I refer hon. Members to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan) earlier today (PQ 104781).
	A daily situation report on the humanitarian situation will be placed in the Libraries of the House every weekday.

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what estimates her Department has made with the (a) Ministry of Defence, (b) Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (c) Treasury on the possible costs of humanitarian assistance in the event of conflict in Iraq;
	(2)  what additional contingency funds and expertise her Department has been granted to support the direct delivery of impartial humanitarian assistance by the international humanitarian community;
	(3)  what proportion of the humanitarian response needed for Iraq in the event of any conflict she estimates will be covered by the sums provided by her Department to the (a) UNCHR, (b) UNICEF, (c) WFP, (d) WHO and (e) UNSECOORD.

Clare Short: There are too many possible scenarios to make a reliable estimate of the cost of humanitarian assistance in Iraq. For this reason it is also difficult at this stage to estimate the proportion of needs which will be met by the UK. We expect a UN Inter-Agency Appeal to be launched very shortly. This will include a breakdown of costs anticipated by the UN.
	My Department has thus far committed £50 million and earmarked a further £40 million for humanitarian assistance in Iraq. This has been drawn from DFID budgets and the DFID contingency reserve. Funds from existing spending DFID programmes will not be diverted to fund our assistance to Iraq.

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what discussions her Department has had with the Ministry of Defence on how military strategy can minimise and mitigate the risks of conflict to the Iraqi people;
	(2)  what advice her Department has given the Ministry of Defence and the armed forces on how best to discharge their humanitarian responsibilities under the (a) Hague and (b) Geneva Conventions.

Clare Short: My Department has been in close discussion with the Ministry of Defence over many months working to minimise the humanitarian impact of any conflict; both to minimise the risks to the Iraqi population and the infrastructure on which they depend, and to ensure that UK forces meet their obligations under the Hague and Geneva conventions governing armed conflict. We have seconded two humanitarian specialists to work with the armed forces (UK 1 Division) and to advise on relief activities.

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what additional funding her Department has allocated for the use of military quick impact projects in the period immediately after conflict in Iraq.

Clare Short: My Department has not allocated funds for military quick impact projects in Iraq. The Ministry of Defence has received £30 million from HM Treasury to help the UK military provide relief as part of its obligations under the Geneva and Hague conventions.

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what responsibilities the military will have for the initial delivery of humanitarian assistance in the event of conflict with Iraq.

Clare Short: Humanitarian agencies cannot operate until a permissive security environment has been established. In the interim, the military will have responsibility to deliver humanitarian assistance in the territory they occupy in accordance with the Geneva and Hague conventions.

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whom her Department has seconded as full time Civil-Military Humanitarian Adviser to the Headquarters of UK 1 Division in Kuwait.

Clare Short: We have seconded two humanitarian advisors to UK 1 division in Kuwait. For security reasons, it would be inappropriate to divulge their names (see exemption 1 (Security) of the Ministerial Code of Practice).

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what advice her Department has given the National Component Headquarters in Qatar on the humanitarian consequences of an Iraq conflict.

Clare Short: DFID has been reviewing and advising on military plans to address humanitarian needs.

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what secondments her Department is making to support the UN Joint Logistic Centre in the event of war with Iraq.

Clare Short: DFID has received a request for an individual to join the UN Joint Logistics centre (UNJLC). We are working with the World Food Programme and the UNJLC to provide an individual at the earliest opportunity.

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to which governments 
	(1)  her Department has made representations on contingency planning for the event of war in Iraq;
	(2)  what funding her Department will provide to the UN Office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in the event of war in Iraq.

Clare Short: We are in discussion with many partners on the planning of humanitarian assistance. It is essential that international plans are co-ordinated. This is the role of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). We have provided £150,000 to support their Iraq co-ordination centre in Cyprus and have seconded a member of staff.

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which (a) governments and (b) international organisations her Department expects will contribute immediate humanitarian assistance in Iraq in the event of war.

Clare Short: DFID has committed £50 million to support preparations by humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organisations in Iraq and the region. We have set aside a further £40 million for the immediate humanitarian response and will consider further assistance as needs are identified.
	On 21 March the College of European Commissioners proposed to release an additional 79 million euros from the Emergency Aid Reserve, increasing their total commitment to 100 million euros. This funding is still to be approved by the Council.
	USAID has so far announced $154 million for humanitarian relief, food distribution, reconstruction and transition initiatives. We anticipate that other governments will contribute to the humanitarian relief effort and hope that they will generously support the anticipated UN Inter-agency flash appeal.

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what effort her Department is making with (a) international financial institutions and (b) the international community to ensure that there is a suitable UN mandate in place to provide legal authority for the reconstruction effort in Iraq in the event of conflict.

Clare Short: I visited New York and Washington on 19–20 March to meet the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World bank and the US Administration to try to ensure that proper preparations are being made for reconstruction in Iraq. My officials are also in regular contact with these and other partners.
	A UN mandate for the reconstruction effort is a precondition for the engagement of the World bank, the International Monetary Fund and many countries. Their engagement is key to the reforms that are needed to move the economy forward and to secure an agreement on debt rescheduling and a reparations strategy that will enable the Iraqi economy to recover and grow. I held detailed talks last week with officials of the UN and the US Administration about how that might be achieved and I am hopeful that we will soon make progress in line with the agreements reached between the Prime Minister and President Bush in the Azores.

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many metric tonnes of food her Department estimates will be needed by the end of March for the Iraqi population; and how many metric tonnes of food she estimates will be available by the end of March.

Clare Short: WFP has positioned sufficient supplies to feed two million people for one month. This is intended to cover the initial phase of the ongoing conflict, during which WFP will support refugees and the malnourished and vulnerable inside Iraq. WFP believes that most Iraqis1 food reserves will last up to six weeks.

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what preparations her Department has made to allow non-governmental organisations safe access to endangered populations in Iraq in the event of conflict.

Clare Short: Humanitarian agencies cannot operate until a permissive security environment has been established. The military will discharge their humanitarian obligations under the Geneva and Hague conventions in order to provide relief in the interim. Once the situation allows, NGOs will need to undertake their own security assessments before engaging.

Iraq

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with EU member states concerning collective involvement in the reconstruction of post-war Iraq.

Clare Short: The first step is to secure a strong UN mandate for reconstruction. The European Council on 20 and 21 March agreed that the UN Security Council should give the UN such a mandate for post-conflict Iraq and make sure that the new Iraqi administration is one that is representative, respects the human rights of the Iraqi people, and allows the people of Iraq to live in peace internally and with their neighbours.

Iraq

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department intends to take in order to ensure that food distribution in post-war Iraq remains apolitical.

Clare Short: The UK is committed to humanitarian assistance being provided by civilian agencies wherever possible, on the basis of need, and not as part of a military strategy. We are supporting the role of UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in co-ordinating humanitarian assistance.

Iraq

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the nomination of an Iraqi national to administer Iraq's aid programme, with special reference to the oil for food programme;
	(2)  what representations she has received concerning the protection of food supplies to Iraq in the event of discontinuation of the UN Oil for Food programme during military action in Iraq;
	(3)  whether a relief programme will come under the Prime Minister's plans for an oil revenue trust fund for the Iraqi people;
	(4)  what representations she has received concerning the expansion of the Oil for Food programme to pay for reconstruction costs in Iraq;
	(5)  what the current total volume is of unspent oil revenues in the escrow account of the UN Oil for Food programme; and what representations she has received concerning its distribution in the coming months;
	(6)  what steps she plans and is taking to ensure that there is a satisfactory level of independent auditing of Iraq's Oil for Food programme in the aftermath of conflict;
	(7)  what evaluation she has made of the impact of the suspension of the UN Oil for Food programme on civilians' food needs in Iraq;
	(8)  what steps are being taken by her Department to ensure the protection of food supplies to Iraq in the event of discontinuation of the UN Oil for Food programme during military action in Iraq.

Clare Short: 60 per cent. of the people of Iraq—around 16 million people—are currently dependent on the UN Oil for Food programme (OFF).
	The UK has been in discussion with the UN humanitarian agencies, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and international NGOs to determine what resources they require to procure food to cover any temporary gap in the OFF programme. The UN is currently planning on a medium case scenario under which up to 10 million people may require food assistance during and immediately after conflict. We have committed £50 million to support the contingency preparations of these partners (covering food and other relief). This includes £8 million for the World Food programme. We have set aside a further £40 million for the immediate humanitarian response and are considering further assistance in line with emerging humanitarian needs.
	DFID also provides 19 per cent. of EC funding for Iraq. On 21 March the College of European Commissioners proposed to release an additional Euro 9 million from the Emergency Aid Reserve, increasing their total commitment to Euro100 million. This funding is still to be approved by the Council.
	We have had many representations and discussions on the continuation of the OFF programme with the UN Secretariat, Security Council members and others. Preparations are in hand for a new Security Council Resolution to allow the UN Secretary General to take charge of the Oil for Food (OFF) programme. A draft resolution will be tabled very soon.
	The first priority for oil revenues post-conflict must be to get the OFF programme back up and running. There are substantial unspent oil revenues in the escrow account. We are in discussions with partners about the level of funds which could be released for new commitments under OFF and how this might be done.
	We are also in discussions with our partners over arrangements for the post-war administration of Iraq. A UN mandate will be required to provide legal authority to a new transitional government in Iraq. We are holding ongoing discussions with key partners to ensure such a mandate is put in place.
	OFF accounts are prepared by the UN and audited by their independent auditors.

Iraq

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has and steps she is taking to ensure that Iraq does not develop a long-term dependency on aid.

Clare Short: Iraq is an oil rich country. It has the resources to ensure it does not become aid dependant. It will however need support to reform its economy to create an enabling environment to encourage economic growth.

Iraq

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received concerning the return of external investors to Iraq after the end of any military campaign.

Clare Short: I have had discussions with the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World bank and the US Administration to try to ensure that proper preparations are being made for reconstruction in Iraq. A UN mandate will be required to provide legal authority for the reconstruction effort, and to make possible the engagement of the International Financial Institutions and the wider international community. The Government are holding discussions with others to ensure such a mandate is put in place.

Iraq

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what measures her Department will take to publish audited accounts in relation to the administration of aid funds in post-war Iraq;
	(2)  what steps her Department intends to take to monitor the activities of the aid community in post-war Iraq.

Clare Short: Use of DFID funds in post-war Iraq will be subject to usual Government audit procedures.
	The monitoring of international assistance to post-conflict Iraq will initially be the responsibility of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). We have provided £150,000 to support their Iraq co-ordination centre in Cyprus and have seconded a member of staff.

Iraq

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with HM Treasury concerning Britain's financial burden in Iraq in the event that war-related infrastructure damage causes a significant reduction in oil revenue.

Clare Short: I am in on-going discussions with HM Treasury. It is presently too soon to say with any certainty what the cost of humanitarian and reconstruction work will be.

Iraq

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from the non-governmental organisations regarding her Department's assistance with the provision of humanitarian relief in post conflict Iraq.

Clare Short: My Department is in regular discussion with NGOs both in London and in the countries surrounding Iraq. We have received a substantial number of applications for NGO funding. We are urgently assessing these and will be making decisions on them shortly.

Iraq

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs concerning the co-ordination of the military and humanitarian strategy in the event of military action in Iraq.

Clare Short: My Department has been in close discussion with the Ministry of Defence for many months to minimise the humanitarian impact of any conflict; both to minimise the risks to the Iraqi population and the infrastructure on which they depend, and to ensure that UK forces meet their obligations under the Hague and Geneva conventions governing armed conflict. We have seconded two humanitarian specialists to work with the armed forces (UK 1 Division) and to advise on relief activities.
	We are also working in close collaboration with the Foreign and Commonwealth office on relevant issues.

Iraq

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the protection of Iraqi oil production facilities in the event of military action in Iraq.

Clare Short: My Department has been in close contact with the Ministry of Defence to seek to minimise the impact of conflict on the infrastructure on which the people of Iraq depend.

Iraq

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how much her Department has allocated for the agricultural reconstruction of post-war Iraq, broken down by type of activity;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the total value of the Iraqi economy given over to agriculture in (a) 1989, (b) 1996 and (c) 2003, broken down by type.

Clare Short: My Department does not keep data on the Iraqi agriculture in the form requested. The latest Economist Intelligence Unit Iraq Country Profile has useful background on the Iraqi economy and agricultural sector.
	It is too soon to allocate funds for the post-war reconstruction of Iraqi agriculture. The first priority is to secure a UN mandate which will be required to provide legal authority for the reconstruction effort, and to make possible the engagement of the International Financial Institutions and the wider international community. The Government is holding ongoing discussions with key partners to ensure such a mandate is put in place.

Iraq

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how much foodstuff is available for relief work in Iraq by (a) the UK, (b) the EU, (c) the US and (d) other states, broken down by type; and what proportion of those foodstuffs are derived from genetically modified materials, broken down by type;
	(2)  what (a) recent discussions she has had with and (b) representations she has received from (i) the United States, (ii) the United Nations, (iii) aid charities and (iv) other groups and individuals on the distribution of genetically modified foodstuffs for (A) refugees and (B) displaced persons in Iraq as a consequence of any conflict; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The UK, EU, US and others are supporting the humanitarian effort through their partners: UN agencies, the Red Cross movement, NGOs and others. DFID has so far committed £8 million to the World Food. DFID believes that food aid recipients should make their own decisions about acceptance of genetically modified materials.

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the number of Iraqi civilians likely to die from hunger and disease as a result of military conflict.

Clare Short: There are a number of possible humanitarian scenarios. The UN is currently planning on a 'medium case' scenario. This assumes severe disruption to critical infrastructure and the Iraqi Government's capacity to deliver basic food and relief. Disruption to fuel and power supplies could shut down water and sewage treatment plants. Up to half the population could be without access to potable water and up to 10 million people may require food assistance during and immediately after conflict.

Iraq

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether costs incurred by the United Kingdom in providing emergency, reconstruction and other forms of aid in post-conflict Iraq will be met by diverting funds from existing spending programmes within the budget of the Department for International Development.

Clare Short: Funds from existing spending DFID programmes will not be diverted to fund our assistance to Iraq.

Eritrea

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the UN co-ordinator for Eritrea regarding food shortages.

Clare Short: Eritrea has requested food aid for 60 per cent. of its population. Many donors fear this is larger than need and could damage agricultural production. We have provided £3.35 million towards the appeal and are monitoring the situation closely.

Aid Policy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government's health priorities are within their development aid policies.

Clare Short: Our paper "Better Health for Poor People" sets out our strategy.
	DFID's four main priorities are:
	(i) Addressing the priority health problems of poor people by improving access to care, services and products. This includes reproductive and maternal health and support for the prevention of communicable diseases, particularly TB and malaria.
	(ii) Investing in strong, efficient and effective health systems.
	(iii) Promoting a more effective global response to HIV/AIDS.
	(iv) Creating the social, political and physical environments to improve health and increasing access to clean water and sanitation.

Afghanistan

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of aid operations in Afghanistan.

Clare Short: The Afghanistan Transitional Administration has just hosted the first Afghanistan Development Forum in Kabul, to present its budget to donors for the next three years. The collective assessment of the Administration and donors there was that tremendous progress has been made since the fall of the Taliban in November 2001 but that great challenges remain. 2003 will be a critical year for Afghanistan—improving security beyond Kabul, extending the writ of the central Administration, increasing domestic revenue collection, agreeing a new constitution, preparing for elections, stimulating private sector growth, creating sustainable livelihoods and providing essential services for people, reintegrating more returning refugees and disarming, demobilising and reintegrating militias. To achieve this, Afghanistan will require very effective international support. Donors and the Administration agreed at the Development Forum that this meant that donors must focus their aid on the priorities set out by the Administration in their budget. This assistance should be channelled through a blend of the most effective instruments, reflecting the limited absorptive capacity of each of them: direct funding of the Government through multi-donor trust funds, funding of UN programmes, and direct funding of NGOs and private sector contractors.

Zimbabwe

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what overseas aid projects she is supporting in Zimbabwe in the forthcoming financial year.

Clare Short: DFID's current feeding programmes for Zimbabwe extend until June 2003. It is already evident that the crisis in food production will persist for a third year, as the structural causes of agricultural decline have not been addressed. Detailed assessments and the plans of the Zimbabwe government are awaited; from there we will develop specific programmes. We expect to maintain support for humanitarian needs for a further year along similar lines to our activities during the last year, working with the UN and non-governmental agencies.
	DFID's on-going £26 million programme of support to help address HIV/AIDS and to increase access to health care for vulnerable people in Zimbabwe also continues until 2005.

Millennium Development Goals

Roger Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to use the international finance facility to meet the millennium development goals.

Clare Short: The Chancellor and I have launched proposals for an international finance facility, designed specifically to help meet the internationally agreed millennium development goals. We are working with international partners, the business community and civil society to develop this proposal and to build support.

Bangladesh

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reasons aid to Bangladesh decreased between 2000–01 and 2001–02; and whether it will be increased to the 2000–01 level in 2003–04.

Clare Short: Total DFID expenditure in Bangladesh in 2001–02 was reported as £62 million. However an additional £10 million which was spent in that year will be included in the figures for 2002–03 due to changes in DFID's end of year accounting procedures.
	Statistics on DFID's programmes are based on our internal accounting and management information systems. In accordance with government policy, DFID has moved to Resource Accounting and the figures for 2001–02 were the first to be produced from the new system. For 2001–02 onwards, all payments are counted in the year in which they are made whereas in previous years, during a limited period of time, payments relating to the previous year were attributed to the earlier year. The figures for 2001–02 are therefore "light" by the amount of these prior year payments.
	It is estimated that total expenditure on development assistance in 2001–02 was understated by around £140 million. This is a global aggregate which cannot be broken down by country, but includes the £10 million mentioned above for Bangladesh. Hence some individual country expenditure may appear to have dropped in that year. It is anticipated that the figures for Bangladesh will return to their earlier level of over £70 million in 2002–03, increasing to around £80 million for the next three years.

Departmental Catering Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost was of (a) the in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by the Department in 2002.

Clare Short: The information is as follows:
	(a) The cost of the in-house canteens for the period January-December 2002 for DFID are as follows:
	Abercrombie House: £30,122
	Palace Street: £72,349
	(b) The cost of additional refreshments and other services provided by the caterers and which are not covered by the respective contracts:
	Abercrombie House: £13,080
	Palace Street: £141,000

Departmental Creche Facilities

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what crèche facilities are provided by her Department; and at what cost.

Clare Short: My Department does not provide crèche facilities. We do provide holiday playschemes for staff in our offices in London and East Kilbride. The costs of the holiday playschemes are as follows:
	East Kilbride
	£10 annual registration fee for first child and £5 for each additional family member plus £9 per child per day, paid wholly by the parents.
	London
	£30 per child per day (as at December 2002) of which the parent and DFID pay £15 each.
	£26 per child per day (for the remainder of 2002) of which the parent and DFID pay £13 each.
	For 2002, the cost to DFID for subsidising DFID parents' use of the Whitehall Holiday Playscheme was £2,256.

Departmental Events

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by her Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in the last 12 months, broken down by title, purpose, date and cost.

Clare Short: This information is not held centrally and it would incur a disproportionate cost to provide it.

EU Development Assistance

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to increase the effectiveness of the targeting at poverty reduction of EU development assistance.

Clare Short: In 2003–04 I expect my Department to spend over £1 billion on EC development assistance, which, with some exceptions, under performs both in effectiveness and targeting on poverty reduction. The Commission spent only 43 per cent. of its official development assistance in 2001 in low-income countries and although an improvement from 38 per cent. in the previous year. The Government's aim is to ensure the Commission seeks to spend 70 per cent. of the development budget in low-income countries by 2006.
	We have been working since 1997 to improve the effectiveness and poverty focus of EC development assistance. We welcome the positive steps that were taken by the Commission to reform the management of external assistance and are pressing the EC to continue and deepen the reforms. Prioritisation needs radical overhaul. Allocation decisions too often reflect the political consensus by the Council of Ministers and European Parliament to maintain spending at historical levels in middle-income regions, which reflect domestic or foreign policy considerations. We want to see the pledge, explicit in the EC's Development Policy Statement of November 2000, to focus on poverty reduction reflected in annual decisions over resource transfers.
	We will continue to push for basing allocations on developmental needs of the poorest countries through all the channels available to us including the annual budget negotiations, the revision of the Asia and Latin America Regulation, the mid-term review of MEDA and the country strategy paper process which determines individual allocations. We have had some initial success eg in 2002 securing additional Euro100 million from the EC's External Actions Budget for Asia and a commitment of Euro1 billion for the rehabilitation of Afghanistan.
	In the longer term the discussions of the Convention debate on the Future of Europe and forthcoming debates on the EU budget ceilings for the period 2007–13 offer opportunities to reinforce the poverty efforts of the EC's external actions. I believe the EC should focus efforts on where they will be effective and can add value in their impact on economic growth and poverty reduction. Otherwise the EC should cut back its activities.

Pensions

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the (a) funded and (b) un-funded public sector pension schemes for which her Department, its agencies and its non-departmental public bodies are responsible; when the last actuarial valuation was of each scheme; what the value was of the assets at the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; what deficit is disclosed by the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The following table shows the funded and un-funded public sector pension schemes managed by the Department of International Development. The Overseas Service Pensions Scheme 1985 is the only funded pension scheme. The last actuarial valuation of the 1985 Scheme was carried out as at 30 September 2001. The market value of the Scheme's assets at that time was £13.17 million. The valuation showed a surplus of £1.8 million. The un-funded schemes are exempt from the formal valuations required by the Pensions Act 1995 and subsequent regulations.
	Funded Pension Schemes
	The Overseas Service Pensions Scheme 1985
	Un-funded Pension Schemes
	The Barbados Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1985
	The Belize Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1982
	The Botswana Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Burma Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1974
	The Cyprus Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1979
	The Dominica Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The East African Community Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1979–82
	The Fiji Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The Gambia Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1974
	The Ghana Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Gilbert Islands Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Grenada Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The Guyana Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1978
	The India Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1986
	The Jamaica Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Kenya Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1977
	The Lesotho Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The Malawi Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The Malaysia Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1979
	The Malta Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Mauritius Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The Nigeria Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1979
	The Pakistan Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1986
	The Seychelles Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Sierra Leone Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Singapore Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1977
	The Solomon Islands Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Sri Lanka Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1979
	The St Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The St Lucia Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The St Vincent Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The Sudan Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1973
	The Swaziland Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The Tanzania Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Trinidad & Tobago Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1986
	The Uganda Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1985
	The Zambia Public Officers' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1985
	The Colonial Service Pensions Addition for War Service (United Kingdom) Scheme 1989
	The Overseas Service (Allocation of Pension) (Amendment) Scheme 1991
	The Barbados Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1985
	The Belize Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1982
	The Joint (Botswana, Lesotho And Swaziland) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions De-funded (United Kingdom) Scheme 1986
	The Cyprus Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1979
	The East African Community (East African Scheme) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1979
	The East African Community (Railways & Harbours Corporation) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1979
	The Fiji Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The Gambia Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1974
	The Ghana Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (De-funded) (United Kingdom) Scheme 1986
	The Guyana Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' (United Kingdom) Scheme 1978
	The Jamaica Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Kenya Asiatic Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' (United Kingdom) Scheme 1977
	The Kenya Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (De-funded) (United Kingdom) Scheme 1990
	The Malawi Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1979
	The Malaysia (Sabah) (British North Borneo Company) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1979
	The Malaysia (Sabah) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (De-funded) (United Kingdom) Scheme 1986
	The Malaysia (Sarawak) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (De-funded) (United Kingdom) Scheme 1986
	The Malta Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Mauritius Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The Nigeria Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1979
	The Seychelles Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (De-funded) (United Kingdom) Scheme 1986
	The Sierra Leone Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' (De-funded) (United Kingdom) Scheme 1986
	The Singapore Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1977
	The Sri Lanka Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1979
	The Tanzania (Tanganyika) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Tanzania (Zanzibar Asiatic Officers)) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Tanzania (Zanzibar) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Trinidad And Tobago Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1986
	The Uganda (European Officers) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1985
	The Zambia Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (De-funded) (United Kingdom) Scheme 1985
	The Zambia Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1985
	The Zambia Transferred Federal Officers' (Dependants) Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1985
	The Barbados Public Officers' Widows' and Children's Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1986
	The Mauritius Public Officers' Widows' and Children's Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1975
	The Seychelles Public Officers' Widows' and Children's Pensions (United Kingdom) Scheme 1976
	The Indian Family Pensions (Transferred) (United Kingdom) Scheme 1985
	The Governors Pensions Scheme 1979
	The Oversea Superannuation (De-funded) Scheme 1991
	Section 4 of The Aden, Perim and Kuria Muria Islands Act 1967
	Section 5 of The Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1967
	The Pensions (India, Pakistan And Burma) Act 1955
	The Central Office of the Overseas Audit Department Pension Scheme
	The Governors Pensions Act 1957
	Sections 2 and 4 of The Overseas Pensions Act 1958
	The Police Pension Scheme 1987
	The Police Pension Scheme ("Old Cases")
	The Firemen's Pension Scheme 1992
	The Overseas Service (Pension Supplement) Regulations 1995
	The Increase of Pensions (India, Pakistan and Burma) Regulations 1972
	The Increase of Pensions (Overseas Service Pensions (Scheme and Fund)) Regulations 1973

TREASURY

Landfill Tax

Iris Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written statement of 3 February 2003, Official Report, column 5WS, on the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, whether the Scheme in Northern Ireland will remain unaltered following the coming budget.

John Healey: As the 2002 pre Budget report made clear, from April 2003, around two thirds of the funding currently going through the landfill tax credit scheme will be allocated to additional public spending on sustainable waste management; the devolved administrations will have responsibility for spending within their countries. The PBR also set out that the remaining third will continue to be made available through a UK-wide reformed tax credit scheme, focusing on local community environmental projects. Our plans for reform of this successor tax credit scheme will be set out on a Budget timetable. My written statement of 3 February set out transition funding arrangements for waste management and recycling projects in England. The Devolved administrations are, as my statement made clear, responsible for their own transition arrangements.

Aggregates Levy

Tom Levitt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the aggregates levy on (a) companies in the extraction industries, (b) the environment in the vicinity of quarries and (c) the quantity of recycled building materials being used.

John Healey: The aggregates levy has only been operational since 1 April 2002. Although Customs and Excise, who have responsibility for administering the levy, are monitoring its economic and environmental impacts, it is too early for an assessment to be made. Customs' monitoring takes account of data from specific research as well as information from business organisations, individual companies and environmental organisations.

Customs Staff

Candy Atherton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has that will affect the disposition of customs staff presently based in Devon and Cornwall; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 6 March about Customs business plans for 2003–04 to 2005–06. For Customs to achieve their agreed public commitments on drugs, tobacco and VAT, they will deploy their resources differently by refocusing them in ways to produce the highest impact and outcomes.
	In the Falmouth area, Customs are proposing a shift from fixed-location staffing to more flexible deployment in teams which will tackle fraud and smuggling in Falmouth and more widely across the south.

Domestic Abuse

Margaret Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has and what steps he has taken since 2001 to provide finance for public programmes that aim to raise awareness of domestic abuse and to provide services for those victims.

Bob Ainsworth: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) on 17 March 2003, Official Report, column 580W.

ECOFIN Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 19 March; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I attended the ECOFIN meeting on 19 March in my capacity as Chair of the Code of Conduct Group. The UK Permanent Representative and Jon Cunliffe represented the UK.
	ECOFIN considered the tax package and all member states but one reached political agreement on the text of the Savings Directive, the text of the Interest and Royalties Directive and the results of the Code of Conduct Group. ECOFIN reaffirmed their commitment formally to adopt the tax package as soon as possible.
	At ECOFIN all delegations except Austria reached political agreement on the taxation of energy, based on proposals for an energy products directive put to the council to the 11 December 2002 ECOFIN meeting. At an informal Finance Ministers meeting on 20 March in the margins of the European Council, Austria agreed to lift their reservation. ECOFIN will adopt the energy products directive once consultation with the European Parliament and with accession countries has been completed. The energy products directive will, from 1 January 2004, increase the existing Community minimum rates of duty on oils (with a second increase in the minimum rate of duty on diesel from 1 January 2010), and provide a Community framework, with minimum rates of duty, for the taxation of other energy products: electricity, natural gas, coal and other solid fuels.
	The directive meets all of the UK's main interests. In particular, the directive preserves the UK's right to exempt domestic and charity non-business use of energy from the climate change levy.
	The Council heard a request from the Italian delegation concerning the application of article 88 (2) to measures to compensate farmers for milk quotas fines in Italy.
	No votes were taken at the meeting.

Economic Cycle

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assumptions were made concerning when the current economic cycle will end when making the conclusions of paragraph 2.54 of the pre-Budget report 2002;
	(2)  when he expects that the current economic cycle will end.

Ruth Kelly: As set out in paragraph B6 of the pre-Budget report November 2002 (Cm5664), the current economic cycle is projected to end in 2005–06.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the most recent discussion between government officials and representatives of Gibraltar take place.

Denis MacShane: I have been asked to reply.
	Officials in a number of Government Departments have regular discussions with representatives of Gibraltar.

National Insurance

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the (a) value, (b) percentage and (c) numbers of national insurance contributions that were received by the Inland Revenue but remained unrecorded on an individual's national insurance record, in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the number of occasions in each of the last 10 years where national insurance contributions were deducted by employers and passed to the Government but not allocated to individual national insurance records; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue estimate that around 50 million end of year contribution returns are received each year. Around 4 per cent. of these contain incomplete or incorrect identifying details and cannot be allocated to an individual national insurance account without further information. Most of these non-matching items have no or little impact on people's benefit entitlements. The Inland Revenue works with employers to trace and match contributions, concentrating on cases where they are likely to have a significant impact on entitlement. Information about the value of these and number of contributions received but which remain unrecorded on individual's national insurance records for each of the last 10 years would be available only at disproportionate cost.

Public Finances

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reasonable assumptions are referred to in paragraph 2.67 of the pre-Budget report 2002, on which the judgment that the public finances are sustainable in the longer term was based.

Ruth Kelly: The assumptions are presented in Chapter 5 of the Long-term Public Finance Report, which was published alongside the pre-Budget report in November 2002.

Student Debt

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many errors in the repayment of student loans have been lodged with the Inland Revenue Department by (a) members of the public and (b) hon. Members in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue does not keep this information. Errors should normally be notified to the Student Loan Company (which is responsible for notifying the Revenue when borrowers leave higher education) or the employer (who is responsible for making the right deductions from pay).

VAT

David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what notice was given of changes to VAT exemption for welfare services;
	(2)  what measures he has introduced to compensate private welfare agencies for the loss of input VAT recovery as a result of changes to VAT exemption;
	(3)  what plans he has to treat the provision of welfare services as being zero rated for VAT purposes rather than exempt.

John Healey: The Government's introduction of VAT exemption for welfare services provided by state-regulated private welfare agencies means that the 60,000 sick, elderly or disabled people who pay for home care services will no longer have to pay VAT on these services and we estimate that they could see a reduction in costs of up to 13 per cent.
	I announced that this exemption would be available from 31 January 2003 in a written Ministerial statement on 19 December 2002, Official Report, column 80WS. Independent fostering agencies, whose supplies are to local authorities, may choose to postpone changing the VAT treatment of their supplies until 1 April while they make the contractual and financial arrangements that are necessary for them to implement the change. Other commercial welfare agencies are required to implement the change when they become state-regulated, the earliest date for which is 1 April 2003.
	It is a fundamental principle of the VAT system that businesses may only recover VAT relating to taxable supplies. Commercial providers of VAT-exempt services will take a range of commercial factors, including overheads such as irrecoverable VAT, into account when setting their prices.
	There are no plans to introduce a zero rate of VAT for commercially provided welfare services, since we are prevented from doing so by long-standing formal agreements with our European Union partners.

VAT

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of VAT evasion in the building repairs and maintenance industry Customs and Excise have (a) investigated and (b) secured additional VAT payments from in the last three financial years.

John Healey: The information requested is not kept by HM Customs and Excise.

VAT

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what pilots he has conducted under the European Directive on VAT reduction tested; what the results were; and how these results compare with similar pilots in other EU states.

John Healey: We have conducted no pilots under the EC experiment to apply reduced VAT rates to certain 'labour intensive services', believing that there are currently more effective, better-targeted ways of increasing employment in the United Kingdom. An evaluation of the experiment is due to take place during 2003 in the context of the European Commission's planned review of the provisions governing the use of VAT reduced rates in the EU.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

European Constitution

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a White Paper on the legal and constitutional implications of his policy of acceding to a European constitution

Denis MacShane: The Government will continue to ensure full opportunity for the involvement of Parliament in considering the draft Treaty articles being produced by the Convention and which will be considered in the next Intergovernmental Conference.
	We are considering further how best to do this as the Convention approaches its conclusion before the IGC begins.

European Constitution

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the legal basis upon which Her Majesty's Government will give legal effect to (a) the principle of a Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms and (b) the European Constitution.

Denis MacShane: The product of the Convention on the Future of Europe will be a draft Treaty. The draft, including any reference in it to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, will require the agreement of all Member States in the next Intergovernmental Conference. The Government has put forward its views in detail on the draft text produced by the Convention so far. These have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Any new restructured treaty, or amendments to the existing treaties, will need to be ratified according to the individual constitutional requirements of all Member States. In the UK, as with the Nice Treaty, and all other treaties amending the original treaty structure, any new amendments would have to stand up to vigorous scrutiny by Parliament before the UK would ratify.

Chechnya

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to, and what responses he has received from, Russia on human rights in Chechnya on the accountability of the police and army for their actions.

Denis MacShane: The question of the accountability of military and police actions in Chechnya is one which is regularly raised with the Russian government. Most recently, during human rights talks at senior official level, with the Russian government earlier this month, we stressed that all allegations of human rights violations should be thoroughly and transparently investigated, and those responsible punished. We added that the vigorous protection of the human rights of the civil population was an essential precursor to a lasting political solution to the conflict in Chechnya.
	On this occasion, senior Russian officials acknowledged that violations had been committed and that action needed to be taken to prevent further abuses. Their aim was to increase the protection of the civil population's human rights through the introduction of a new constitution for Chechnya, the phased withdrawal of Federal troops and the transfer of their security duties to the Chechen Interior Ministry.

China

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's position with reference to the Chinese Government's response to the human rights demonstrations held in XUAR on 5 February.

Bill Rammell: Marches by Uighurs protesting about the banning of meshreps (a traditional form of social gathering) took place in Gulja, in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) on 5 February 1997.
	We regularly raise our concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang through the biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue and continue to stress to the Chinese authorities that the international fight against terrorism must not be used as an excuse to repress people who engage in non-violent political activity or hold unauthorised religious beliefs.

Civil Service Travel

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what grades in the Civil Service in his Department are allowed to travel by air (a) first class and (b) business class at public expense when on official duties.

Bill Rammell: In flights of less than three hours duration, all staff travel economy class except officers in the Senior Management Structure with Job Evaluation Senior Posts (JESP) weightings of 13 or higher who travel business class.
	In flights of more than three hours duration, all staff travel business class except officers in the Senior Management Structure with job weightings of JESP 22 or higher who travel first class. If no business class is available, officers in the Senior Management Structure with job weightings of JESP 13 and above travel first class and other officers travel economy class.
	Exceptions can be made sparingly on a case by case basis for the following reasons:
	Urgent or unforeseen journeys when no lower class seats are available
	Political or protocol reasons
	Operational reasons when a junior officer is accompanying a senior officer
	Cost effective reasons when it is cheaper to upgrade (e.g. to save excess baggage charges).

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason he has not replied to the letter to him dated 28 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. J. Meah.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary responded to my right hon. Friend's letter on 17 March. A copy of the letter was faxed to my right hon. Friend's parliamentary office on 18 March.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having with the Greek government on resolving the conflict in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Cyprus was discussed by EU Heads of Government, including, Greece at the European Council on 20–21 March. I regularly discuss Cyprus in bilateral contacts with representatives of the Greek government.
	The UN Secretary-General has made it clear that he remains at the disposal of the parties should they ask for UN assistance in negotiations based on the UN proposals. We strongly support the UN Secretary-General in this approach.

Departmental Events

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by his Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in the last 12 months, broken down by title, purpose, date and cost.

Bill Rammell: The information requested is not held centrally by any one department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Events

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions on which (a) his Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department failed to pay valid invoices within 30 days or after the agreed credit period in the financial year 2001–02.

Bill Rammell: In 2001–02 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office paid 97 per cent. of invoices within 30 days of receipt or the agreed contract terms where these differ.

Kosovo

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the landmine clearance programme in Kosovo has been completed.

Bill Rammell: Programmed mine clearance in Kosovo was completed during 2001, and the responsibility for any further demining transferred from the now defunct UN Mine Action Co-ordination Centre (UNMACC) to the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
	A much reduced threat from unexploded ordnance (UXO), including landmines, continues to exist in certain areas of the province. UNMIK tackles this on a response basis, working with NGOs and the indigenous Kosovo Protection Corps as necessary.

Liberia

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of revenue from the Liberian timber industry in supporting the Government of Mr. Charles Taylor.

Bill Rammell: The Government shares the concern of the UN Panel of Experts that the revenues from timber sales in Liberia are being used to fund arms purchases in breach of UN sanctions. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1408(2002) called on the Government of Liberia to undertake a credible audit of shipping and timber revenues and to use the revenues from the timber trade for social, development and humanitarian purposes.
	We support the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (AFLEG) process, which calls on all African governments and trading partners to take actions to control illegal activities in the forestry sector and associated trade. A conference to push this process forward is planned in April 2003.

Middle East

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States on the use of NATO peacekeepers as part of the road map for peace in the Middle East.

Mike O'Brien: None. But we believe that third-party monitoring, accepted by both parties, would serve the interests of Israel and the Palestinian Authority in their search for peace. The Quartet roadmap contains provisions for establishing such a mechanism. We stand ready to help in any way we can.

Sierra Leone

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the state of the peace settlement in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: This year Sierra Leone celebrated its first year of peace in over a decade. Disarmament was completed and the war declared over in January 2002. Credible and peaceful elections were held in May. But, much remains to be done to consolidate peace. The UN peacekeeping mission, UNAMSIL, remains deployed throughout the country. It has begun to withdraw, in a phased process, which should last 18 to 20 months.
	On 10 March the Special Court for Sierra Leone indicted seven people suspected of war crimes. Five are now in custody. This action represents an important step forward for the Court and signals Sierra Leone's determination to end impunity. At the same time, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is making good progress with statement-taking. Over 4,700 statements have been recorded to date. We welcome the TRC Chairman's recent announcement that donors have pledged an additional $3.7 million (US) in support of its work.
	The UK continues to play a leading role in building a lasting peace. This month a deployment of Gurkhas undertook joint exercises with the Sierra Leone armed forces as a demonstration of the UK's support for the settlement process. Key post-conflict challenges include helping the Government of Sierra Leone to:
	reform the security sector;
	train and strengthen the capacity of the armed forces and police;
	reintegrate former combatants, returning refugees and the internally displaced;
	tackle corruption;
	promote justice (including through the establishment of the Sierra Leone Special Court) and reconciliation (through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission);
	introduce policies for managing and securing the diamond fields;
	strengthen democratic institutions and civil society;
	put in place effective public administration and management of public finances, rebuild the country's basic infrastructure and services; and
	develop industry and the economy.
	The UK is committing over £120 million of development assistance, including substantial budgetary support, to Sierra Leone over the next three years. This is in addition to our ongoing commitment of over 100 UK military personnel to the UK-led International Military and Advisory Training Team (IMATT). We continue to provide substantial support to humanitarian agencies.
	The ongoing conflict in Liberia and President Taylor's regime, which has not yet met the demands of the Security Council and continues to breach UN sanctions, remain a threat to the peace in Sierra Leone. Through the Liberia Contact Group and other mechanisms we are seeking a peaceful solution and real reform in Liberia.

Taiwan

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy to support a request by Taiwan to be given observer status at the World Health Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: There are difficulties over Taiwanese involvement in a UN forum where statehood is a prerequisite for full membership. We would consider with our EU partners any proposal for Taiwanese involvement in the World Health Organisation (WHO) which took account of these difficulties.

Turkey

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Government on human rights in Turkey; and which cases were discussed.

Denis MacShane: When my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met Turkish leaders at the Copenhagen European Council in December, and in subsequent telephone conversations, he raised the importance of implementing the substantial packages of human rights reforms passed by the Turkish Parliament and encouraged the Turkish Government to take the further steps necessary to meet the Copenhagen political criteria. He did not raise any specific cases.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials closely follow a number of individual cases.

UN Commission for Compensation

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his policy on the future of the UN Commission for Compensation; how much the outstanding claims are; and whether they will be paid.

Mike O'Brien: The UK has supported the work of the United Nations Commission for Compensation (UNCC) since its creation in 1991. 25 per cent. of Oil for Food funds continue to be paid to the UNCC. The UNCC has received about 2.6 million claims seeking compensation in excess of US $300 billion for losses arising out of the illegal invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in 1991, the majority of which have been resolved. The Commission is continuing its work on outstanding claims.

Visa Applications

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department began electronic compilation of statistics in relation to family visitor visa applications, decisions and appeals.

Bill Rammell: We started compiling statistical information electronically on Family visitor visa applications, decision and appeals on Monday 2 October 2000.

War Crimes Tribunal

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) men and (b) women have (i) appeared, (ii) been convicted and (iii) been sentenced at the war crimes tribunal in The Hague, broken down by nationality.

Bill Rammell: Information about the indictees of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) can be found on the ICTY website at: www.un.org/icty together with details about the progress of trial proceedings and sentences.

Westminster Foundation for Democracy

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of his Department's total net spending on the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in each year from 1990–91 to 2005–06 (planned); and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Westminster Foundation for Democracy was not set up until 1992. Details of the FCO's total net spending on WFD for each of the financial year's 1992–93 to 2002–03 are as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Grant in Aid Additional Project Funding 
		
		
			 2002–03 4,162,577 296,161 
			 2001–02 4,156,000 422,876 
			 2000–01 4,155,000 221,240 
			 1999–2000 4,427,818 — 
			 1998–99 3,000,000 — 
			 1997–98 2,713,650 — 
			 1996–97 2,500,000 — 
			 1995–96 2,500,000 — 
			 1994–95 2,200,000 — 
			 1993–94 2,000,000 — 
			 1992–93 (13 months) 1,192,600 — 
		
	
	For the next three financial years, the details have yet to be worked out. The Grant in Aid is expected to remain reasonably constant at around £4 million per year.
	The increase from £2.7 million in 1997–98 to over £4 million in 1999–2000 was a result of Resource Allocation Round (RAR) 2000, when WFD bid for an uplift in funding to match the increased number of projects spanning two or more financial years and the general increase in pressure on existing resources.

Zimbabwe

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 962W, on Zimbabwe, if he will make a statement on the results of further investigations into contacts between Andrew Smith and Government officials.

Bill Rammell: Further investigations since our 5 December reply have revealed that Andrew Smith telephoned the British High Commission in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on one occasion towards the end of 2002. He spoke briefly to the Defence Attache about his legitimate business interests connected with a case he has against Sierra National Airlines (SNA). We are not aware of any further contact with Foreign Office officials in London or overseas.

Zimbabwe

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2002, Official Report, columns 9–10W, on Zimbabwe, whether further relevant information has been received on contacts between John Bredenkamp and officials in African countries.

Bill Rammell: John Bredenkamp wrote to the Foreign Secretary on 3 February 2003 about the 8 October 2002 report of the UN Experts Panel on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Foreign Office replied on 21 February 2003.
	Mr Bredenkamp telephoned the High Commission in Harare on 13 January, but there have been no meetings with him.
	As far as we aware, there has been no other contact between John Bredenkamp and UK officials in London or overseas.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Wellington in Somerset falls within the cluster area of Taunton and Bridgwater with respect to the housing of asylum seekers by the National Asylum Support Service.

Beverley Hughes: The town of Wellington in Somerset falls within the National Asylum Support Service cluster area of Taunton and Bridgwater.

Asylum Seekers

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2003, Official Report, column 697W, on asylum seekers, whether it is a rule or a guideline that accommodation must be located within the defined area of a cluster.

Beverley Hughes: It is a rule that accommodation for asylum seekers is located within a cluster area. Accommodation providers are advised by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) that property supplied to house asylum seekers must be located within the designated cluster area. Any properties offered to NASS. which fall outside a designated cluster area will be refused.

Community Cohesion

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that Government efforts to encourage community cohesion in the UK are not endangered by the current international situation.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 24 March 2003
	I refer my hon. Friend to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 20 March 2003, Official Report, column 51WS, providing information to the public about the threat of terrorism. In that statement he said that the Home Office is working with the police and other local agencies to ensure that tension levels within our communities are monitored on a daily basis. Within local areas agencies are working together—and with local communities—to provide reassurance and to ensure that there are arrangements in place to deal with any potentially difficult situations that might emerge. At this stage the assessments provided give us no reason to believe that there is a serious risk of a disturbance, and we are countering the close monitoring.

Correspondence

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a substantive reply to the letter from the hon. Member for North Shropshire dated 4 March concerning Mrs. Judith Acun.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 10 March 2003
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 25 March 2003.

Correspondence

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to letters from the hon. Member for Vauxhall dated 28 January and 7 March about a constituent, ref. G306128.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to my hon. Friend on 13 March and 19 March in reply to her letters of 28 January and 7 March about her constituent.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has not replied to the letter to him dated 28 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Nariman Rave Salih.

David Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 20 March 2003.

Data Protection

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the terms of reference given to the privacy experts consulted in relation to the draft Code of Practice concerning access to communications data; what the cost was of this consultation; whether these experts were consulted in relation to the draft Code of Practice concerning the retention of communications data; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The terms of reference of the independent experts who assisted the preparation of the consultation paper "Access to communications data—respecting privacy and protecting the public from crime" have been:
	1. To advise on the terms of, and process for, a public consultation paper on the addition of public authorities to the access to communications data provisions of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) to ensure: clarity, accessibility, credibility and balance of consultation paper; effective dissemination to a wide audience, and that concerns expressed over original draft RIPA Order are seen to be addressed.
	2. To advise on the scope of a wider review on the balance between privacy and protecting the public and the terms in which such a review is proposed in the consultation on the RIPA access to communications data order, taking into account, amongst other issues: the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) study "Privacy and data sharing", and the views of other Government Departments (including the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Office of the e-Envoy and others as appropriate).
	3. To attend meetings, provide written or oral advice and to prepare reports as required.
	To date, the cost of engaging the independent experts' time and their consultancy advice has been £49,547. Although the experts were engaged to assist with preparation of the consultation paper on access to communications, we asked one of the experts to review the draft consultation paper and draft code of practice for voluntary retention of communications data.

Data Protection

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff the Interception of Communications Commissioner will have to supervise those who have access to communications data under the draft Code of Practice; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The Interception of Communications Commissioner has a statutory duty to keep under review the exercise of powers and duties by persons who will obtain and disclose communications data under Part I Chapter II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, when it is implemented. The number of staff the Commissioner has to assist him fulfil this duty will depend on how the legislation is implemented and what additional role, or roles, he may have in safeguarding the use of powers to access communications data.
	The consultation paper "Access to communications data—respecting privacy and protecting the public from crime", published on 11 March, invites views on these matters. We are also discussing with the Commissioner how he envisages his role and the resources he may require.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Servants

Archie Norman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisors have been employed by (i) the Strategy Unit, (ii) the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, (iii) the Office of the e-Envoy, (iv) the Office of Public Services Reform and (v) the Prime Minister's Policy Unit in each year since their creation.

Douglas Alexander: Figures regarding how many civil servants have been employed by units since they were created can be found in the following table. All figures have been rounded to full time equivalents (FTE). There have been no special advisers working in the units.
	For the Prime Minister's Policy Directorate figures I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 25 March 2003, Official Report, column 125W.
	
		
			   FTE staff numbers for 3 February: 
			 Unit Date Unit Created 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Strategy Unit July 2002 — — — 90 
			 The Prime Minister' s Delivery Unit June 2001 — — 18 34 
			 The Office of the E-Envoy September 1999 51 71 145 141 
			 The Office of Public Services Reform June 2001 — — 30 (1)43 
		
	
	(1) The Office of Public Services Reform figure for 3 February 2003 includes The Charter Mark and Beacon Unit which merged with the unit on 1 September 2002.

Ministerial Statements

Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what reason it is not normal practice to define the territorial extent of the effect of parliamentary ministerial statements.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The territorial extent of UK ministerial responsibilities is largely defined by the devolution legislation. In most cases the territorial extent of a ministerial statement is clear from the context.

Public Appointments

Rob Marris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps Government departments are taking to encourage an increase in the number and profile of public appointments to local and national decision-making bodies for members of the British Sikh Community.

Douglas Alexander: Work is currently under way in my Department on a new website which will enable people to get details of current and prospective public appointment vacancies across Government Departments. This new website will enable people to search on the basis of topic, department and location of the body and will be linked through to further information about each vacancy including how to apply. The new website will be complemented by a bi-annual newsletter, so that access to the internet is not a barrier. The website and newsletter will be launched shortly.
	By developing this new website, we will be providing greater access to information about public appointments, encouraging a far wider audience to participate in public life.

HEALTH

Beds

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute beds there are per 1,000 residents in (a) Buckinghamshire, (b) Berkshire and (c) Oxfordshire.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally. Bed numbers are collected by national health service trust and can not be aggregated to county boundaries. Information on bed numbers for NHS trusts are published annually on the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity.

Beds

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the bed occupancy rates for (a) all beds, (b) general and acute beds, (c) acute beds, (d) mental health beds, (e) learning disability beds and (f) maternity beds in (i) 1979 and (ii) each year since 1990.

John Hutton: Information on bed occupancy was collected from 1996–97 and is published annually on the Department of Health website at http:///www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity.

Homoeopathic Treatments

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what incentives his Department provides to increase the numbers of homoeopathic practitioners that are professionally registered.

John Hutton: holding answer 3 March 2003
	The Department provides no direct incentives to individual homeopaths to encourage them to join professional registers. However, national health service organisations take into account whether complementary and alternative medicine practitioners are members of an appropriate voluntary regulatory scheme when deciding whether to commission their services.
	The Department is still awaiting reports from the two regulatory working groups that have been established to develop proposals specifically on the statutory regulation of herbalists and acupuncturists. When we have consulted on their recommendations, we will be in a position to consider whether there is a case for the statutory regulation of homeopaths and any other complementary and alternative medicine professions.

NHS Funding

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the last three (a) full and (b) interim collections of brokerage figures for each NHS trust in respect of cash brokerage requirement and projected outturn against budget were, broken down by NHS Region and Strategic Health Authority.

John Hutton: holding answer 5 March 2003
	Details of national health service trusts' cash brokerage in 2001–02 has been placed in the Library. For details of NHS trusts' cash brokerage for the financial years 1996–97 to 2000–01, I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 17 April 2002, Official Report, columns 1013–14W.
	Cash brokerage between NHS organisations occurs throughout the financial year. The Department does not therefore make full or interim collections of brokerage data. Brokerage is self-financing, so there is no outturn against a brokerage budget.

Patients Advice and Liaison Service

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS trusts and primary care trusts which have established a patients' advice and liaison service; how many staff each trust employs in each service; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: 96 per cent. of trusts provide a patient advice and liaison service. A list of patient advice and liaison services is available at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/patientadviceandliaisonservices/.
	The Department does not hold details of the number of staff working within patient advice and liaison services. Trusts are responsible for establishing and staffing their own services.

Smallpox

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether smallpox vaccination is available on the NHS through family doctors.

John Hutton: holding answer 12 March 2003
	Smallpox vaccination is not available on the national health service through family doctors. General practitioners do not hold stocks of the vaccine. It is not required because the disease was declared eradicated in 1980. The Department holds a strategic stock for use in an emergency which can be disseminated quickly in the event of a bio-terrorism incident involving smallpox. The situation is being kept under the most careful review. The Government is following World Health Organisation guidance on the best approach in protecting the public against smallpox.
	We have already announced that a small number of key frontline health service staff and military personnel are being vaccinated. These front line personnel would provide the first response in the event of a confirmed, suspected or threatened release of smallpox.
	Our contingency plans for dealing with smallpox are detailed in the draft guidelines on smallpox available on http://www.doh.gov.uk/epcu/cbr/biol/smallpoxplan.htm.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Council Tax

David Ruffley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average council tax was for every band in (a) Suffolk and (b) England in each year since 1996–97.

Christopher Leslie: The following table shows the average council tax for every band in Suffolk since 1996–97.
	
		Average council tax for every band in Suffolk since 1996–97 -- £
		
			  Band A Band B Band C Band D Band E Band F Band G Band H 
		
		
			 1996–97 407 475 543 610 746 882 1,017 1,221 
			 1997–98 434 507 579 651 796 941 1,086 1,303 
			 1998–99 471 549 628 706 863 1,020 1,177 1,413 
			 1999–2000 507 592 677 761 930 1,100 1,269 1,522 
			 2000–01 544 635 726 816 998 1,179 1,360 1,632 
			 2001–02 582 679 776 873 1,067 1,261 1,455 1,747 
			 2002–03 654 764 873 982 1,200 1,418 1,636 1,963 
			 2003–04 776 905 1,034 1,164 1,422 1,681 1,939 2,327 
		
	
	The following table shows the average council tax for every band in England since 1996–97.
	
		Average council tax for every band in England since 1996–97 -- £
		
			  Band A Band B Band C Band D Band E Band F Band G Band H 
		
		
			 1996–97 431 502 574 646 790 933 1,077 1,292 
			 1997–98 459 535 612 688 841 994 1,147 1,376 
			 1998–99 498 581 664 747 913 1,079 1,245 1,494 
			 1999–2000 532 621 709 798 975 1,153 1,330 1,596 
			 2000–01 565 659 753 847 1,035 1,223 1,412 1,694 
			 2001–02 601 701 801 901 1,101 1,301 1,502 1,802 
			 2002–03 651 759 868 976 1,193 1,410 1,627 1,952 
			 2003–04 735 857 979 1,102 1.347 1,591 1,836 2.204

Green Belt (South Bedfordshire)

Andrew Selous: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the existing green-belt land in South Bedfordshire district council will be maintained as1jysuch.

Tony McNulty: The future development strategy for Bedfordshire, including whether existing green belt boundaries are altered, will be considered through the regional, sub-regional and local development planning processes, as required by Planning Policy Guidance note 2: Green Belts.

Local Authority Allocations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 13 March 2003, Official Report, columns 424–25W, what the value is of the allocation to each authority.

Nick Raynsford: The table shows the Formula Spending Shares (FSS) allocation as a result of coastline for each authority. The allocation is zero for all other authorities.
	
		£
		
			 Authority Coastline allocations 
		
		
			 Merseyside 655,329 
			 Tyne and Wear 367,787 
			 Isles of Scilly 387,848 
			 Cornwall 4,433,500 
			 Cumbria 1,638,322 
			 Lincolnshire 1,297,284 
			 Norfolk 1,364,154 
			 Northumberland 1,404,276 
			 Somerset 682,077 
			 Suffolk 635,268 
			 West Sussex 528,275 
			 Isle of Wight Council 896,062 
		
	
	In addition the following authorities as part of combined fire authorities:
	
		£
		
			 Authority Allocation Total for combined fire authority 
		
		
			 Bath and North East 112,750 — 
			 Somerset — — 
			 Bristol 216,853 — 
			 South Gloucestershire 153,484 — 
			 North Somerset 125,432 — 
			 As part of Avon Fire Authority — 608,520 
			 Hartlepool 66,193 — 
			 Middlesbrough 97,979 — 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 104,237 — 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 139,500 — 
			 As part of Cleveland Fire Authority — 407,909 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 576,576 — 
			 Kingston upon Hull 352,831 — 
			 North East Lincolnshire 241,057 — 
			 North Lincolnshire 247,186 — 
			 As part of Humberside Fire Authority — 1,417,650 
			 York 165,230 — 
			 North Yorkshire 563,657 — 
			 As part of North Yorkshire Fire Authority — 728,886 
			 Bournemouth 252,249 — 
			 Poole 227,947 — 
			 Dorset 676,660 — 
			 As part of Dorset Fire Authority — 1,156,856 
			 Darlington 23,850 — 
			 Durham 109,891 — 
			 As part of Durham Fire Authority — 133,741 
			 Brighton and Hove 221,504 — 
			 East Sussex 480,634 — 
			 As part of East Sussex Fire Authority — 702,138 
			 Portsmouth 61,293 — 
			 Southampton 67,604 — 
			 Hampshire 506,371 — 
			 As part of Hampshire Fire Authority — 635,268 
			 Plymouth 591,031 — 
			 Torbay 371,694 — 
			 Devon 2,146,744 — 
			 As part of Devon Fire Authority — 3,109,469 
			 Southend-on-Sea 182,882 — 
			 Thurrock 148,079 — 
			 Essex 1,541,407 — 
			 As part of Essex Fire Authority — 1,872,368 
			 Medway 173,033 — 
			 Kent 1,050,693 — 
			 As part of Kent Fire Authority — 1,223,726 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 41,712 — 
			 Blackpool 48,372 — 
			 Lancashire 398,069 — 
			 As part of Essex Fire Authority — 488,153 
		
	
	The allocation in combined fire authorities has been split in relation to taxbase and does not reflect the length of coastline in constituent authorities.

Local Government Finance

Anthony Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 14 March 2003, Official Report, column 438W, on local government finance, which local authorities in Devon have suffered a cut in real terms in central Government funding as a result of increased national insurance contributions from 1 April and the proposals and initiatives within the new burdens principle; and whether the increase in national insurance is included in the new burdens principle.

Nick Raynsford: A new burden is defined as any policy or initiative which increase the cost of providing local authority services. Under the new burdens arrangement Government Departments are responsible for fully funding the costs of their policies which impact on local authorities. The new burdens requirement does not apply to policies which apply the same rules to councils and to private sector bodies (for example a change in the rate of employers' national insurance contributions) except where those policies apply disproportionately to local government. The Government have however guaranteed an increase in grant of at least above the rate of inflation for all local authorities. The increases announced in SR2002 took into account all pressures, including the increase in national insurance contributions, along with the ability of local authorities to make savings. As a result total Government grant to local authorities has increased by £3.8 billion in 2003–04. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister estimates the change in national insurance contributions will increase local authorities' pay costs on average by 0.7 per cent. or some £250 million.

Public Service Agreements (East Riding)

David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what PSA targets there are for the East Riding of Yorkshire council.

Nick Raynsford: The Government concluded a local PSA with East Riding of Yorkshire council in November 2001. The agreement set out the council's commitment to making specified improvements in the following areas:
	Increasing educational attainment at GCSE
	Increasing educational attainment of looked after children
	Increasing bus usage
	Increasing cost effectiveness
	Reducing domestic burglary
	Increasing employment of over 50-year-olds
	Reducing levels of unauthorised pupil absence
	Promoting the independence of older people
	Developing e-government
	Increasing the number of decent homes
	Speeding up benefits processing
	Improving the street scene
	A copy of the agreement was deposited in the Library of the House, and both the agreement and a summary of the agreement are available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website (http://www.local-regions.odpm.gov.uk/lpsa).

Water Sprinklers

Charles Hendry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what guidance he has given to local authorities about requiring new houses to be equipped with water sprinklers;
	(2)  what tests have been carried out, monitored by his Department, in the effectiveness of water sprinklers in reducing the spread of fires;
	(3)  how many deaths have occurred as a result of house fires in each of the past five years in houses (a) fitted and (b) not fitted with water sprinklers.

Christopher Leslie: Guidance for local authorities and others on measures that will meet the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations is given in Approved Document B (Fire safety). This currently does not suggest that new dwellings should be provided with residential sprinklers. However, the Building Regulations are kept under review and in April 2001 research was commissioned into the effectiveness of sprinklers in residential properties. This work is addressing a number of areas, including the undertaking of a series of experimental tests, which should assist with the identification of the potential effectiveness of such sprinkler systems. To date the tests that have been undertaken include 25 benchmark fire tests to evaluate the draft British Standard specification for residential sprinklers, BS DD 252, and eight fires staged in a converted three-bedroomed detached house as part of an experimental programme using realistic fires. Preparation for the final stage of this experimental programme is currently under way. The final results and conclusions from this work should be available around the end of the year.
	The following table shows dwelling fires and associated deaths in fires attended by local authority fire brigades in the United Kingdom for the past five years for which data are available.
	
		
			  Dwellings 
			  Fatal casualties Fires(2) attended by Fire brigade 
		
		
			 1997   
			 Water sprinkler present 0 95 
			 Water sprinkler absent 562 72,397 
			
			 1998   
			 Water sprinkler present 0 116 
			 Water sprinkler absent 513 70,961 
			
			 1999   
			 Water sprinkler present 0 115 
			 Water sprinkler absent 463 72,113 
			
			 2000(3)   
			 Water sprinkler present 0 117 
			 Water sprinkler absent 445 70,780 
			
			 2001(4)   
			 Water sprinkler present 0 60 
			 Water sprinkler absent 482 68,916 
			 All years   
			 Water sprinkler present 0 503 
			 Water sprinkler absent 2,465 335,167 
		
	
	(2) Figures are based on sample data weighted to brigade totals.
	(3) Provisional.
	(4) Estimated.
	Care should be taken in drawing conclusions about the number of fatal casualties in dwelling fires attended by the fire brigade with water sprinklers present due to the very small number of sprinklered homes in the UK.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Legal Aid

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultation has taken place with the Irish Government regarding the property assets and bank deposits held in the Republic of Ireland by Michael McKevitt and Liam Campbell.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	I am not aware of any consultations with the Irish Government on the subject of assets held by McKevitt and Campbell. I would anticipate that the Assets Recovery Agency and the Criminal Assets Bureau will work closely together on such matters. It would not however be appropriate for me to indicate whether an investigation is being carried out by the Assets Recovery Agency in respect of any particular individual.

Legal Aid

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek co-operation from the Government of the Republic of Ireland to obtain a full list of assets held by Michael McKevitt and Liam Campbell in order to establish their eligibility for legal aid in Northern Ireland.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	The Legal Aid Department of the Law Society has a Fraud Investigation Unit, which will investigate any information that has been passed to them.
	If anyone has information to suggest that an applicant for legal aid may not have made a full declaration of their assets, I would encourage them to share that information with the Legal Aid Department and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
	The Government do not however comment on, or intervene in decisions made about the grant or refusal of legal aid in individual cases.
	Although the Lord Chancellor has ministerial responsibility for legal aid in Northern Ireland, the Law Society of Northern Ireland, through its Legal Aid Committee and the Legal Aid Department, makes decisions on applications for civil legal aid in accordance with statutory principles. It is important that decisions on the merits of individual cases are, and are seen to be, free from political influence.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Catering Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was of (a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by the Department in 2002.

Kim Howells: The cost of the staff restaurant was £44,567 and refreshments for meetings, provided when participants from outside the Department were involved was £22,864. A new contract starting in April 2003 on a fixed cost basis will reduce the cost of the staff restaurant to the Department.

Arts Council of England

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2003, Official Report, column 516W, on the Arts Council of England, what the (a) total administrative cost, (b) total grant in aid allocation, (c) regional administrative cost and (d) regional grant in aid allocation has been in each financial year since 1999–2000.

Kim Howells: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Arts Council England: Admin costs etc 1999–2003
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03(5) 
		
		
			 Total Admin cost for Arts Council England (National Office) 19,537,177 22,517,000 22,776,000 26,814,000 
			 Change costs (excluded from above) 0 0 2,152,000 5,543,000 
			 Creative Partnerships (excluded from above) 0 0 0 2,654,000 
			 Total GIA for Arts Council England 228,250,000 237,155,000 251,455,000 297,500,000 
			 Total Regional Admin costs 14,340,694 18,194,370 18,836,934 19,686,326 
			 Total Regional GIA 71,015,823 103,785,000 120,522,933 130,280,589 
		
	
	(5) 2002–03 unaudited figures
	Source:
	The information has been supplied by the Arts Council of England on behalf of themselves and the regional arts boards (as they were prior to the recent restructuring of the arts funding system).

Departmental Spending

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the percentage spending by her Department per person was in (a) the Chorley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) England in the last year for which figures are available; and which constituency received the highest spend per person.

Kim Howells: As the Department for Culture, Media and Sport allocates funding on a regional and national level it is not possible to give the figures requested. In 2001–02 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's total direct spend on the North West region was £42,890.73. This funding was allocated on a region wide basis to the North West Regional Cultural Consortium. Spending on the North West Regional Cultural Consortium represented 21 per cent. of total spend (£205,493.46) on Regional Cultural Consortiums in England.

Film Industry

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on Government support for the UK film industry.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 12 March 2003, Official Report, columns 316–17W.

Lottery

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was in the National Lottery Distribution Fund Reserve in each month since the inception of the National Lottery.

Richard Caborn: The information requested is not available in the requested format over the entire period in question. Up to and including 1996–97, the figure for the size of the NLDF balance was collated only at the end of the 3rd and 4th quarters of the financial year. The following table gives these figures and the monthly totals from 1997–98 onwards.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			  
			  
			 December 1994 82,605,591.04 
			 March 1995 287,507,542.46 
			 December 1995 1,331,034,983.87 
			 March 1996 1,634,720,318.09 
			 December 1996 2,482,533,141.13 
			 March 1997 2,679,446,118.77 
			 April 1997 2,760,284,924.32 
			 May 1997 2,825,836,637.78 
			 June 1997 2,887,503,891.07 
			 July 1997 3,091,908,110.15 
			 August 1997 3,114,487,001.11 
			 September 1997 3,156,630,166.19 
			 October 1997 3,241,042,171.63 
			 November 1997 3,295,406,525.97 
			 December 1997 3,371,239,929.20 
			 January 1998 3,424,963,487.28 
			 February 1998 3,494,001,941.80 
			 March 1998 3,566,283,713.30 
			 April 1998 3,581,838,932.34 
			 May 1998 3,621,730,875.87 
			 June 1998 3,662,868,840.06 
			 July 1998 3,622,683,546.71 
			 August 1998 3,600,176,763.97 
			 September 1998 3,625,856,354.41 
			 October 1998 3,643,996,449.17 
			 November 1998 3,675,922,548.68 
			 December 1998 3,699,779,063.21 
			 January 1999 3,720,622,264.14 
			 February 1999 3,690,763,913.84 
			 March 1999 3,674,391,090.15 
			 April 1999 3,654,442,148.07 
			 May 1999 3,597,958,305.41 
			 June 1999 3,643,790,501.90 
			 July 1999 3,727,414,149.14 
			 August 1999 3,674,846,254.87 
			 September 1999 3,633,431,060.18 
			 October 1999 3,577,737,855.16 
			 November 1999 3,548,123,450.81 
			 December 1999 3,555,159,915.31 
			 January 2000 3,606,015,365.13 
			 February 2000 3,538,843,961.44 
			 March 2000 3,517,510,239.64 
			 April 2000 3,462,415,574.15 
			 May 2000 3,462,758,465.63 
			 June 2000 3,452,278,233.27 
			 July 2000 3,520,071,826.26 
			 August 2000 3,491,337,593.36 
			 September 2000 3,456,847,824.90 
			 October 2000 3,454,308,810.66 
			 November 2000 3,453,248,857.59 
			 December 2000 3,438,497,209.13 
			 January 2001 3,449,489,057.76 
			 February 2001 3,443,899,778.83 
			 March 2001 3,451,862,081.15 
			 April 2001 3,379,873,503.36 
			 May 2001 3,383,786,659.14 
			 June 2001 3,343,002,675.78 
			 July 2001 3,429,428,995.28 
			 August 2001 3,442,375,361.70 
			 September 2001 3,444,322,283.25 
			 October 2001 3,588,850,753.73 
			 November 2001 3,585,150,158.17 
			 December 2001 3,529,771,471.42 
			 January 2002 3,600,098,349.99 
			 February 2002 3,583,110,195.02 
			 March 2002 3,558,834,694.00 
			 April 2002 3,530,051,013.43 
			 May 2002 3,506,452,712.10 
			 June 2002 3,526,563,657.73 
			 July 2002 3,521,439,929.16 
			 August 2002 3,515,822,531.26 
			 September 2002 3,516,289,993.61 
			 October 2002 3,491,224,948.82 
			 November 2002 3,459,295,723.29 
			 December 2002 3,449,453,228.79 
			 January 2003 3,464,925,469.44 
			 February 2003 3,239,330,222.51

Lottery

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she is taking to reduce the amount on the National Lottery Distribution Fund Reserve.

Richard Caborn: At the end of February 2003, the overall National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) balance stood at £3.24 billion, the lowest end of month total since October 1997. In addition, at the end of December 2002, the distributors collectively had made commitments totalling £3.74 billion, significantly in excess of the amount held in the fund. This level of over commitment shows that the money resident in the NLDF does not constitute a 'reserve'.
	DCMS is actively working with the distributing bodies to further reduce the amount of money held in the NLDF. It is revising the Financial Directions issued to distributing bodies to allow the more rapid transfer of grants to their recipients. It also plans to issue guidance to all distributors about balance management, asking distributing bodies to publish their own NLDF balance management policies, with targets for future balance levels.

Lottery

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been the total amount paid in interest on the National Lottery Distribution Fund Reserve in each of the last five years; and how this money has been spent.

Richard Caborn: The information requested is shown, for the past five completed years, in the following table.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2001–02 182,948 
			 2000–01 220,166 
			 1999–2000 185,857 
			 1998–99 245,189 
			 1997–98 212,556 
		
	
	Section 32 of the National Lottery etc Act 1993 governs the investment of the National Lottery Distribution Fund balance. The balance is invested by the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, and the interest earned is added in proportion to the totals available for allocation by each of the distributing bodies. The Exchequer does not benefit in any way from these investments.

Lottery

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of National Lottery grants were awarded in (a) Bury St. Edmunds, (b) Suffolk and (c) the East of England.

Richard Caborn: According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the National Lottery awards database, the Bury St. Edmunds constituency has been awarded 0.17 per cent. of the total amount of Lottery funding since the Lottery's inception. Suffolk has received 0.70 per cent. and the East of England has received 4.31 per cent. of Lottery funding during the same period.

Lottery

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the spending per head of population for National Lottery grants was in (a) Bury St. Edmunds, (c) Suffolk and (c) the East of England in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Richard Caborn: According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the National Lottery awards database, the Bury St. Edmunds constituencyhas been awarded £19.03 per Capita between 1 March 2002 and 28 February 2003. As we do not hold population details for all Counties or Regions we are unable to provide per Capita data for these areas. However, Suffolk has been awarded £5,099,745 in Lottery funding and the East of England £55,560,282 between 1 March 2002 and 28 February 2003.

Physical Activity

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the average time spent on sport and physical activity by those aged five to 16 in each of the last five years.

Richard Caborn: A recent Sport England research study, conducted by MORI, "Young People and Sport in England: Trends in participation 1994–2002", revealed that seven out of 10 young people considered themselves to be a "sporty type of person" and are now inclined to participate in sport or exercise for an average of 8.1 hours a week outside school lessons, compared with 7.5 hours in 1999. The study also provided details of the average time spent in PE lessons, by years 2 (aged 7)–11 (aged 16), per week. The information covered the years 1994, 1999 and 2002, and is set out in the following table:
	
		Percentage
		
			  1994 Yrs 2–11 1999 Yrs 2–11 2002 Yrs 2–11 
		
		
			 Less than 30 mins — — 1 
			 30 to 59 mins 5 18 6 
			 1 hr to 1 hr 29 mins 22 22 20 
			 1 hr 30 to 1 hr 59 mins 27 26 25 
			 2 hrs to 2 hrs 29 mins 34 22 38 
			 2 hrs 30 to 2 hrs 59 mins 6 5 7 
			 3 hrs or more 6 5 4 
			 2 hrs or more 46 33 49

Public Libraries

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of public libraries have internet access.

Kim Howells: The £100 million lottery funded people's network programme has enabled £4,085 libraries in the UK to be connected to the internet, including all the libraries in Essex. This represents 99 per cent. of libraries in England, 95 per cent. in Scotland, and 100 per cent. in Wales and Northern Ireland. Only 39 English and 30 Scottish libraries, have still to be connected and we expect all but two of these to be online by summer 2003. This is a very significant achievement.

Tourism

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by overseas tourists in the UK in each of the last 10 years, broken down by country of origin.

Kim Howells: Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that expenditure by overseas tourists to the UK in last 10 years, broken down into areas of the world, is as follows.
	
		Expenditure by overseas visitors -- £ billion
		
			  North America Western Europe Otherareas Totalworld 
		
		
			 1993 2.1 4.3 3.1 9.5 
			 1994 2.0 4.3 3.5 9.8 
			 1995 2.3 5.5 4.0 11.8 
			 1996 2.3 6.1 3.9 12.3 
			 1997 2.5 5.7 4.0 12.2 
			 1998 2.8 5.8 4.1 12.7 
			 1999 2.9 5.6 4.0 12.5 
			 2000 3.2 5.3 4.3 12.8 
			 2001 2.7 4.7 3.9 11.3 
			 2002(6) 2.8 5.1 3.9 11.8 
		
	
	(6) Figures for 2002 are provisional.
	Data relating to individual countries are available in the national statistics publication "Travel Trends", copies of which are available from the Library of the House.

Tourism

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the top 20 tourist attractions visited in the UK were in each of the last 10 years; and if she will break down the visitors by country of origin, on a proportional basis.

Kim Howells: A table showing the top 20 tourist attractions by visit in the UK is available for each year from 1999 to 2001. Prior to 1999 figures are collated for admission charging attractions only. The figures are taken from the English Tourism Council's (ETC) publication 'Sightseeing in the UK'. These figures are compiled from operators who have responded to the (ETC) survey and have authorised publication. Data on visitors to attractions by country of origin are not collected.
	
		
			  Number of visits 
		
		
			 Top 20 attractions in 2001  
			 Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool 6,500,000 
			 National Gallery, London 4,918,985 
			 British Museum, London 4,800,938 
			 London Eye, London 3,850,000 
			 Tate Museum, London 3,551,885 
			 Pleasureland Theme Park, Southport 2,100,000 
			 Tower of London, London 2,019,210 
			 Clacton Pier, Clacton-on-Sea 1,750,000 
			 Eden Project, St. Austell 1,700,000 
			 Natural History Museum, London 1,696,176 
			 Legoland, Windsor 1,632,000 
			 York Minster, York 1,600,000 
			 Pleasure Beach, Great Yarmouth 1,500,000 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1,446,344 
			 Science Museum, London 1,352,649 
			 Flamingo Land, Kirby Misperton 1,322,000 
			 National Portrait Gallery, London 1,269,819 
			 Windermere Lake Cruises, Ambleside 1,241,918 
			 Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury 1,151,099 
			 Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh 1,127,389 
			   
			 Top 20 attractions in 2000  
			 Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool 6,800,000 
			 Millennium Dome 6,516,874 
			 British Museum, London 5,466,246 
			 National Gallery, London 4,897,690 
			 Tate Modern, London 3,873,887 
			 London Eye, London 3,300,000 
			 Pleasureland Theme Park, Southport 2,600,000 
			 Adventure Island, Southend-on-Sea 2,500,000 
			 Alton Towers 2,450,000 
			 Madame Tussaud's, London 2,388,000 
			 Tower of London, London 2,303,167 
			 York Minster, York 1,750,000 
			 Natural History Museum, London 1,577,044 
			 Chessington World of Adventure 1,500,000 
			 Pleasure Beach, Great Yarmouth 1,500,000 
			 Legoland, Windsor 1,490,000 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1,344,113 
			 Science Museum, London 1,337,432 
			 Flamingo Land, Kirby Misperton 1,301,000 
			 Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury 1,263,140 
			   
			 Top 20 attractions in 1999  
			 Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool 7,100,000 
			 British Museum, London 5,460,537 
			 National Gallery, London 4,964,879 
			 Alton Towers 2,650,000 
			 Madame Tussaud's, London 2,640,000 
			 Pleasureland Theme Park, Southport 2,500,000 
			 Tower of London, London 2,428,603 
			 Adventure Island, Southend-on-Sea 2,000,000 
			 York Minster, York 1,900,000 
			 Tate Britain, London 1,822,428 
			 Natural History Museum, London 1,696,725 
			 Legoland, Windsor 1,620,000 
			 Chessington World of Adventure 1,550,000 
			 Pleasure Beach, Great Yarmouth 1,500,000 
			 Science Museum, London 1,483,234 
			 Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury 1,318,065 
			 Windsor Castle, Windsor 1,280,000 
			 Westminster Abbey, London 1,260,000 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1,251,396 
			 Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh 1,219,720 
			   
			 Top 20 admission charging attractions in 1998  
			 Alton Towers 2,782,000 
			 Madame Tussaud's, London 2,772,500 
			 Tower of London, London 2,551,459 
			 Natural History Museum, London 1,904,539 
			 Chessington World of Adventure 1,650,000 
			 Science Museum, London 1,599,817 
			 Legoland, Windsor 1,510,363 
			 Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury 1,500,000 
			 Windsor Castle, Windsor 1,495,465 
			 Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh 1,219,055 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1,110,396 
			 Flamingo Land, Kirby Misperton 1,105,000 
			 St. Paul's Cathedral, London 1,095,299 
			 London Zoo 1,052,000 
			 Drayton Manor Park, Staffs. 1,003,802 
			 Kew Gardens, London 1,000,000 
			 Windermere Lake Cruises, Cumbria 950,000 
			 Chester Zoo 920,000 
			 Royal Academy, London 912,714 
			 Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath 905,426 
			   
			 Top 20 admission charging attractions in 1997  
			 Madame Tussaud's, London 2,798,801 
			 Alton Towers 2,701,945 
			 Tower of London, London 2,615,170 
			 Natural History Museum, London 1,793,400 
			 Chessington World of Adventure 1,750,000 
			 Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury 1,613,000 
			 Science Museum, London 1,537,151 
			 Legoland, Windsor 1,297,818 
			 Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh 1,238,140 
			 Blackpool Tower 1,200,000 
			 Windermere Lake Cruises, Cumbria 1,131,932 
			 Windsor Castle, Windsor 1,129,629 
			 Flamingo Land, Kirby Misperton 1,103,000 
			 London Zoo 1,097,637 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1,040,750 
			 Drayton Manor Park, Staffs. 1,002,100 
			 St. Paul's Cathedral, London 964,737 
			 Kew Gardens, London 937,017 
			 Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath 933,489 
			 Thorpe Park, Chertsey 912,000 
			 Top 20 admission charging attractions in 1996  
			 Alton Towers 2,749,000 
			 Madame Tussaud's, London 2,715,000 
			 Tower of London, London 2,539,272 
			 Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury 1,700,000 
			 Chessington World of Adventure 1,700,000 
			 Natural History Museum, London 1,607,255 
			 Science Museum, London 1,548,286 
			 Legoland, Windsor 1,420,511 
			 Windsor Castle, Windsor 1,215,631 
			 Blackpool Tower 1,200,000 
			 Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh 1,165,132 
			 Flamingo Land, Kirby Misperton 1,161,000 
			 Thorpe Park, Chertsey 1,139,680 
			 Windermere Lake Cruises, Cumbria 1,034,188 
			 London Zoo 1,002,104 
			 St. Paul's Cathedral, London 1,002,000 
			 Kew Gardens, London 993,527 
			 Drayton Manor Park, Staffs. 937,296 
			 Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath 902,186 
			 Chester Zoo 869,222 
			   
			 Top 20 admission charging attractions in 1995  
			 Alton Towers 2,707,000 
			 Madame Tussaud's, London 2,703,283 
			 Tower of London, London 2,536,680 
			 Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury 1,900,000 
			 Chessington World of Adventure 1,770,000 
			 Science Museum, London 1,556,368 
			 St. Paul's Cathedral, London 1,500,000 
			 Windsor Castle, Windsor 1,212,305 
			 Blackpool Tower 1,205,000 
			 Thorpe Park, Chertsey 1,166,000 
			 Natural History Museum, London 1,064,273 
			 Kew Gardens, London 1,060,000 
			 Windermere Lake Cruises, Cumbria 1,054,414 
			 London Zoo 1,042,701 
			 Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh 1,037,788 
			 Drayton Manor Park, Staffs. 1,000,000 
			 Royal Academy, London 881,000 
			 Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath 872,915 
			 Warwick Castle 803,000 
			 Chester Zoo 760,580 
			   
			 Top 20 admission charging attractions in 1994  
			 Alton Towers 3,011,000 
			 Madame Tussaud's, London 2,631,538 
			 Tower of London, London 2,407,115 
			 St. Paul's Cathedral, London 1,900,000 
			 Natural History Museum, London 1,625,000 
			 Chessington World of Adventure 1,614,000 
			 Blackpool Tower 1,305,000 
			 Science Museum, London 1,268,839 
			 Thorpe Park, Chertsey 1,235,000 
			 Drayton Manor Park, Staffs. 1,004,000 
			 Windsor Castle, Windsor 1,090,668 
			 London Zoo 1,046,888 
			 Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh 992,078 
			 Kew Gardens, London 988,801 
			 Royal Academy, London 952,472 
			 Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath 871,308 
			 Chester Zoo 773,554 
			 Warwick Castle 755,670 
			 American Adventure, Ilkeston 723,000 
			 Stonehenge, Wiltshire 696,605 
			   
			 Top 20 admission charging attractions in 1993  
			 Alton Towers 2,618,365 
			 Madame Tussaud's, London 2,449,627 
			 Tower of London, London 2,332,468 
			 St. Paul's Cathedral, London 1,900,000 
			 Natural History Museum, London 1,700,000 
			 Chessington World of Adventure 1,495,000 
			 Thorpe Park, Chertsey 1,327,000 
			 Science Museum, London 1,277,417 
			 Blackpool Tower 1,250,000 
			 Drayton Manor Park, Staffs. 1,060,000 
			 Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh 1,049,693 
			 Flamingo Land, Kirby Misperton 958,000 
			 Kew Gardens, London 940,035 
			 Royal Academy, London 922,135 
			 Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath 898,142 
			 London Zoo 863,352 
			 Chester Zoo 814,883 
			 Windsor Castle, Windsor 813,059 
			 American Adventure, Ilkeston 800,000 
			 Jorvik Viking Centre, York 752,586 
			   
			 Top 20 admission charging attractions in 1992  
			 Alton Towers 2,501,379 
			 Madame Tussaud's, London 2,263,994 
			 Tower of London, London 2,235,199 
			 Natural History Museum, London 1,700,000 
			 St. Paul's Cathedral, London 1,400,000 
			 Tower World, Blackpool 1,300,000 
			 Science Museum, London 1,212,504 
			 Chessington World of Adventure 1,170,000 
			 Thorpe Park, Chertsey 1,026,000 
			 Royal Academy, London 1,018,114 
			 Flamingo Land, Kirby Misperton 991,000 
			 Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh 986,305 
			 Kew Gardens, London 953,250 
			 Drayton Manor Park, Staffs. 950,000 
			 London Zoo 939,597 
			 Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath 885,948 
			 American Adventure, Ilkeston 860,000 
			 Jorvik Viking Centre, York 785,028 
			 Windsor Castle, Windsor 769,298 
			 Chester Zoo 768,100

Tourism

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research her Department has undertaken regarding the estimated cost to the UK tourist industry as a result of the international crisis in the Middle East, broken down by (a) number of visitors by region of the world, (b) amount spent on goods and services and (c) value to the Exchequer; and if she will place a copy of the research in the Library.

Kim Howells: DCMS is monitoring the statistics available, such as the ONS International Passenger Survey, but no research has been undertaken. It is not possible to make accurate predictions about the impact on the UK tourism industry of a conflict in the Gulf. Some overseas visitors might be more reluctant to travel, but more British people might choose to holiday in the UK.

Tourism

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tourists from overseas there were in the UK in each of the last 10 years, broken down by country of origin.

Kim Howells: Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that the number of visits by overseas tourists to the UK in last 10 years, broken down into areas of the world, is as follows.
	
		Visits by overseas residents -- Million
		
			  North America Western Europe Otherareas Total World 
		
		
			 1993 3.4 12.8 3.6 19.9 
			 1994 3.5 13.2 4.1 20.8 
			 1995 3.8 15.1 4.6 23.5 
			 1996 3.7 16.8 4.7 25.2 
			 1997 4.1 16.7 4.7 25.5 
			 1998 4.6 16.6 4.6 25.7 
			 1999 4.6 16.1 4.7 25.4 
			 2000 4.9 15.4 5.0 25.2 
			 2001 4.2 14.1 4.5 22.8 
			 2002(7) 4.3 15.3 4.5 24.2 
		
	
	1. Figures for 2002 are provisional
	Data relating to individual countries are available in the National statistics publication "Travel Trends", copies of which are available from the Library of the House.

Tourism

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the impact of (a) foot and mouth disease, (b) events on 11 September 2001 and (c) the possibility of war in Iraq upon (i) the number of visitors to the UK from overseas, (ii) revenues from tourism and (iii) publicly funded support, broken down by region.

Kim Howells: It is not possible to assess separately the impact on the UK tourism industry of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease and the attacks on the US of 11 September 2001. However, the number of inbound visits to the UK fell by 9 per cent. between 2000 and 2001. Expenditure by overseas visitors to the UK fell by 12 per cent. over the same period. It is not possible to make accurate predictions about the impact on the UK tourism industry of a conflict in the Gulf. Some overseas visitors might be more reluctant to travel, but more British people might choose to holiday in the UK.
	In 2001–02, DCMS allocated £35.5 million in baseline grant in aid to the British Tourist Authority, £9.6 million to the English Tourism Council and £1.9 million to the Greater London Authority for tourism support. To help tourism to recover from the impact of foot and mouth disease, an additional £14.2 million was allocated to the British Tourist Authority and a further £3.8 million was allocated to the English Tourism Council. The additional funds for the British Tourist Authority were used for marketing Britain as a destination, and are not broken down by region. Of the additional £3.8 million for the English Tourism Council, £2 million was spent on regional activity, broken down as follows:
	
		
			 Regional Tourist Board Funding 
		
		
			 Cumbria 255,000 
			 East of England 185,000 
			 Heart of England 235,000 
			 London 135,000 
			 Northumbria 185,000 
			 North West 185,000 
			 South East of England 175,000 
			 Southern 175,000 
			 South West 285,000 
			 Yorkshire 185,000 
			 Total 2,000,000 
		
	
	In 2002–03, my Department allocated £35.5 million in baseline grant in aid to the British Tourist Authority, £11.6 million to the English Tourism Council and £1.9 million to the Greater London Authority. To help tourism to recover from the impact of the events of 11 September 2001, an additional £19 million was allocated to the British Tourist Authority and a further £1 million was allocated to the English Tourism Council. All these additional funds were used for marketing Britain as a destination, and are not broken down by region.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Attendance Monitoring

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what he estimates to be the cost of the joint LEA and DfES awareness campaign, to be run in April, to highlight key messages on attendance monitoring to local education authorities.

Ivan Lewis: The joint Department for Education and Skills and Cabinet Office document: "Making A Difference" Reducing Red Tape and Bureaucracy In Schools—Second Report contains a typographical error at page 6 of the Executive Summary. In the outcome relating to LEA monitoring of attendance, the acronym "LEA" should read "LGA" (Local Government Association). The related action, to be found at page 23 of the report, explains that work on the joint DfES/LGA awareness campaign will begin from April 2003. This initial work will include scoping the extent of the campaign and its likely cost.

First Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if he will make a statement regarding the provision of basic first aid education for children;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of (a) the benefits of first aid teaching at an early stage of children's education and (b) the age at which such education should be first provided.

David Miliband: Basic Aid Training is included in the curriculum as part of the framework for Personal Social and Health Education. No assessment has been made by the Department for Education and Skills of the benefits of first aid teaching in schools. The aim is to ensure that children are safe within and outside their school environment. At Key Stage 2 (ages 7–11) children are taught about school rules, health and safety, basic emergency aid procedures and where to get help. Learning continues through Key Stage 3 and 4. At Key Stage 4 (ages 5–16) young people learn to recognise and follow health and safety requirements and develop skills to cope with emergency situations that require basic aid procedures, including resuscitation techniques.

Higher Education

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what actions he is taking in conjunction with the Higher Education Funding Council for England to monitor the value added by higher education institutions, with particular reference to in-course assessment.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 24 March 2003
	Since 1999, HEFCE has published each year Performance Indicators for each institution on student non-continuation and progression rates, benchmarked against entry qualifications and other factors. As signalled in the White Paper for Higher Education published in January 2003, we have asked HEFCE to build upon this work, reviewing the current methodologies for recording student achievement and developing more sophisticated ways of measuring 'value added'. HEFCE will announce details of their review shortly.

Hospitality

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what hospitality has been offered at public expense in the last 12 months, by each Minister in his Department to outside interest groups, broken down by (a) restaurant, (b) recipient and (c) cost in each case;
	(2)  what criteria Ministers in his Department use when determining whether to offer hospitality in restaurants to interest groups at public expense; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how often Ministers in his Department have received hospitality in restaurants from outside groups in the last 12 months.

Stephen Twigg: All offers of hospitality are made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting. The giving and receiving of hospitality is conducted fully in accordance with the guidance set out in the Ministerial Code, and Guidance on Contacts with Outside Interest Groups including Lobbyists. The detailed information requested is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Hospitality

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his Department's hospitality budget (a) is in 2002–03 and (b) was in each of the last three years; and how much was left unspent at the end of each financial year.

Stephen Twigg: My Department does not hold budgets specifically for hospitality. I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 27 January 2003, Official Report, columns 539–40W, which provides figures on spend.

LEAs (Meetings)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what meetings he has had with representatives of local education authorities in the last 12 months.

Charles Clarke: In line with Exemptions 2 and 7 of the "Code of Practice on/Access to Government Information", it is not normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings or their content, as some of these discussions may have taken place on a confidential basis.

Sector Skills Councils

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the sector skills councils, and the names of the chairman and chief executive of each.

Ivan Lewis: Five trailblazer Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) were announced in December 2001 and have received two year licences to operate. Details are as follows:
	Cogent—trailblazer SSC for oil and gas extraction, chemicals manufacturing and petroleum industries.
	Chair—John Mumford
	Chief Executive—John Ramsay
	Lantra—trailblazer SSC for the environment and land based sector.
	Chair—Gordon McGlone
	Chief Executive—Peter Martin
	Skillfast-UK—trailblazer SSC for apparel, footwear and textiles industries.
	Chair-Edward Stanners
	Chief Executive—Linda Florance Skillset—trailblazer SSC for the audio visual industries.
	Chair—Clive Jones
	Chief Executive-Dinah Caine
	Skillsmart-trailblazer SSC for the retail sector.
	Chair-Belinda Earl
	Chief Executive—Nigel Broome
	There are ten further sectors in the final phase of developing Sector Skills Council proposals for consideration by the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA). As SSCs are licensed, information about them including the names of the Chair and Chief Executive, will be published by the SSDA.

Student Loans

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students at the Universities of (a) Newcastle and (b) Northumbria at Newcastle took out (i) loans, (ii) grants, (iii) hardship funds and (iv) opportunity bursaries in each year since 1996; and what the total amount of money paid out was under each different scheme.

Margaret Hodge: The number of students domiciled in the UK attending University at (a) Newcastle and (b) Northumbria at Newcastle who have taken out a student loan, and the total amount of money borrowed, in academic years 1996–97 to 2001–02 (latest year available) is shown in the following tables:
	
		Student loans: number of borrowers and amount borrowed by students normally domiciled in the UK—academic years 1996–97 to 2001–02
		
			 Academic year 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99(7) 1999–2000(8) 2000–01(8) 2001–02(8) 
		
		
			  Newcastle University 
			 Total number of borrowers (000s)(9) of which (12)— 6.2 6.9 7.1 7.7 8.8 
			 Mortgage style loans (000s)(10) (12)— 6.2 5.0 3.2 1.4 0.4 
			 Income contingent repayment loans (000s)(8) (12)— (11)— 1.9 3.9 6.3 8.3 
			 Total amount borrowed (£m)(9)of which: (12)— 9.5 12.7 16.5 21.1 26.3 
			 Mortgage style loans (£m)(10) (12)— 9.5 7.6 4.6 2.0 0.6 
			 Income contingent repayment loans (£m)(8) (12)— (11)— 5.1 11.9 19.1 25.6 
			 University of Northumbria at Newcastle 
			 Total number of borrowers (000s)(9) of which: (12)— 7.2 7.7 8.5 8.9 9.2 
			 Mortgage style loans (000s)(10) (12)— 7.2 5.3 3.2 1.2 0.2 
			 Income contingent repayment loans (000s)(8) (12)— (11)— 2.4 5.3 7.7 9.0 
			 Total amount borrowed (£m)(9) of which: (12)— 10.6 13.9 20.4 24.3 27.2 
			 Mortgage style loans (£m)(10) (12)— 10.6 7.8 4.5 1.6 0.3 
			 Income contingent repayment loans (£m)(8) (12)— (11)— 6.1 16.0 22.7 26.9 
		
	
	(7) New student support arrangements in higher education came into effect in September 1998. For the first year of the new scheme, eligible new entrants received support for living costs through both grants and loans. Grants, which were assessed against family income, on average formed about a quarter of the support available. All students were entitled to a non income-assessed loan, which comprised the remaining three quarters of support available.
	(8) New entrants to higher education in 1999–2000, together with those who started in 1998–99, received support for living costs solely through loans which are partly income-assessed. Grants for living costs are no longer available except for some limited allowances, e.g. for students with dependants; single parent students; and disabled students. Grants for students with dependants and single parent students are income-assessed but the Disabled Students' Allowance is not. From 1999–2000 student loans have been made available to those aged 50–54 who plan to return to work after studying. These loans are repayable on an income contingent basis.
	(9) Refers to loans advanced in the target year only, which include those students in their first, second, third and any subsequent year of their course. Includes hardship loans but excludes fixed rate loans of £500 for part-time students introduced in September 2000.
	(10) Loans available to students who, apart from a few exceptions, entered higher education before academic year 1998–99 and which are repayable on a mortgage style basis.
	(11) Not applicable
	(12) Not available
	Source:
	The Student Loans Company
	Data on the number of students in receipt of all types of maintenance grants at individual institution level are not collected centrally.
	
		Hardship funds: Academic years 1996–97 to 2001–02
		
			 Academic year 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Newcastle University   
			 Successful applicants 639 430 * 1,505 1,079 1,291 
			 Total in payments (£) 192,106 160,812 * 591,886 562,848 714,368 
			 University of Northumbria at Newcastle   
			 Successful applicants 776 448 558 729 900 750 
			 Total in payments (£) 231,420 231,984 672,735 845,445 1,023,467 809,520 
		
	
	* Information for 1998–99 for Newcastle is unfortunately not retrievable
	
		Opportunity Bursaries: Academic years 2001–02 and 2002–03(13)
		
			 Academic year 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Newcastle University 
			 Number of students with a bursary 59 110 
			 Amount paid to students (£) 59,000 110,000 
			 University of Northumbria at Newcastle 
			 Number of students with a bursary 62 151 
			 Amount paid to students (£) *89,000 *199,500 
		
	
	* Includes payments to second year Opportunity Bursary award holders.
	(13) Opportunity Bursaries (only available since 2001–02)

Modern Apprenticeships

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to modify the age cap on modern apprenticeships.

Ivan Lewis: Modern Apprentices aged between 16 and 24 are eligible for LSC funding support. The Government is considering the case for removing the age cap on MA funding and opening Advanced Modern Apprenticeships to suitably qualified or experienced adults, in line with Modern Apprenticeship Advisory Committee recommendations. We currently support the Rail Skills Award pilot for adult apprentices in the rail industry, and the LSC has local flexibility to fund some apprenticeship training for adults.
	We will decide on the way ahead in the light of early operating experience in Wales and Scotland, where the age cap has already been lifted selectively, together with evaluation of current activity in England, and the availability of resources.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Home Responsibility Protection

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what safeguards are in place to ensure that people whose National Insurance contributions are interrupted receive information about home responsibility protection; and what estimate he has made of the level of take-up of home responsibility protection among eligible carers and parents.

Malcolm Wicks: People claiming Child Benefit are given full information about Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) which includes advice as to whom in a couple should be the payee where HRP would be beneficial. However, the award of HRP for Child Benefit payees caring for a child under 16 is automatic and therefore the take-up for those entitled to HRP via this route will be 100 per cent. Most people caring for a severely disabled person will receive Invalid Care Allowance (ICA). People getting ICA will be credited with National Insurance contributions so they will not need HRP. Where ICA is not appropriate, or the carer decides not to claim it, various leaflets, including the PM9, specifically designed for carers, does give information about claiming HRP. Where the carer is receiving Income Support for a full tax year and is not required to register for work because of their caring activities, HRP will be available automatically. However, it is not possible to identify and provide specific information to people who give up work to care for a disabled person and who do not make any claims to benefit or inquiries about protection of their state pension, but the Department publicises the availability of HRP. From April, HRP will also be available to registered foster carers who do not currently get HRP by virtue of caring for a child of their own under 16.

Household Income

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of children lived in households with less than median income in each year from 1975–76 to 2002–03 in (a) numerical and (b) percentage terms; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Such information as is available is provided in the tables.
	
		Numbers and risk of falling below median income for children in households, including the self-employed -- Million
		
			  Before housing costs After housing costs 
			  Percentage Number Percentage Number 
		
		
			 1979 59 — 60 — 
			 1981 61 — 62 — 
			 1987 59 — 60 — 
			 1988–89 58 — 61 — 
			 1990–91 61 — 63 — 
			 1991–92 59 — 61 — 
			 1991–92 59 — 61 — 
			 1992–93 59 — 61 — 
			 1993–94 60 — 62 — 
			 1994–95 59 7.5 61 7.8 
			 1995–96 59 7.5 61 7.8 
			 1996–97 60 7.8 62 8.1 
			 1997–98 61 7.8 63 8.0 
			 1998–99 61 7.8 63 8.0 
			 1999–2000 60 7.8 62 8.0 
			 2000–01 59 7.6 62 7.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All figures are estimates and are taken from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. From 1979 to 1993–94 data are derived from the Family Expenditure Survey: single years for 1979, 1981 and 1987, two calendar years combined for 1988–89, 1990–91,1991–92 and 1992–93 and two financial years combined for 1993–94; results are for the United Kingdom. From 1994–05 to 2000–01, data are derived from the Family Resources Survey and represents single financial years. The Family Resources Survey does not include Northern Ireland, and the latest year for which data is available is 2000–01.
	2. Numbers are in millions. Estimates of numbers from the Family Expenditure Survey are not considered sufficiently reliable to be presented here.
	3. The estimates are sample counts, which have been adjusted for non-response using multipurpose grossing factors that, in the case of the Family Resources Survey, control for tenure, Council Tax band and a number of other variables. Estimates are subject to both sampling error and to variability in non-response. The income measure used is weekly net (disposable) equivalised household income (that is to say income that is adjusted to reflect the composition of the household).
	4. The estimates are presented on both a Before Housing Costs (BHC) and an After Housing Costs (AHC) basis in line with HBAI conventions. Figures are provided including the self-employed.

Post Office Card Accounts

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North-East Derbyshire (Mr. Barnes) of 16 January 2003, Official Report, column 806, if he will place in the Library a copy of the script used by helpline staff when people wish to open a Post Office card account.

Malcolm Wicks: The information has been placed in the Library.

Benefit Payment

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received from organisations representing blind and partially sighted people about the accessibility of PIN Pads used to withdraw benefits in cash in post offices; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: There is no question of blind, partially sighted or disabled people not being able to access their money after the move to Direct Payment. We are committed to ensuring that all people have reasonable access to their benefits and pensions and there will be a number of options available.
	My Officials regularly meet with a number of representatives from Specific Interest Groups, including the RNIB, RNID and Disability Alliance to discuss all issues surrounding Direct Payment. We are aware of the concerns that have been raised with the Post Office about the design and accessibility of the post offices' PIN pads.
	The Post Office has agreed that they need to make the PIN pad more accessible and user friendly. They will also be looking at other ways of accessing the Post Office card account that does not involve using a PIN pad. The Post Office are taking action to address the concerns raised and have invited RNIB and other disability groups to work with them. It is clear these issues have been recognised by Post Office Ltd. and are being taken seriously.

Benefit Payment

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many benefit recipients who have been sent letters asking them how they wish to receive benefits following the switch to automated credit transfer have opted for payment by (a) an existing account, (b) a Post Office card account, (c) a basic bank account and (d) the exceptions service;
	(2)  how many benefit recipients have been sent letters asking them how they wish to receive their benefits following the switch to automated credit transfer, broken down by benefit.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Information that is available shows that as at 7 March 2003 1,369,229 customer invitation letters had been issued. This is made up of 1,236,473 Child Benefit customers, 107,790 Veterans Agency customers and 24,966 Pensions customers. From the invitation letters issued over 545,000 customers have responded to our letters and opted for payment into a bank or building society account and over 106,000 customers have responded with a request for a Post Office card account.

Bereavement Payments

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals relating to bereavement (a) allowance and (b) payments have been made in each month since the allowance was introduced; how many such appeals were in respect of claims made outside the time limit; and how many such appeals were successful.

Malcolm Wicks: The available information is in the table. Information in the format requested could be obtained only by a clerical examination of all cases which would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		Appeals found in favour of the appellant at hearing for bereavement and widows benefits(14)
		
			  Received by the Appeals Service Cleared at hearing(15) Found in favour 
		
		
			 April 2001 55 50 10 
			 May 2001 60 60 15 
			 June 2001 70 50 5 
			 July 2001 55 45 5 
			 August 2001 75 40 5 
			 September 2001 75 40 5 
			 October 2001 85 65 5 
			 November 2001 60 50 5 
			 December 2001 45 35 0 
			 January 2002 70 40 5 
			 February 2002 70 55 10 
			 March 2002 60 45 10 
			 April 2002 70 45 5 
			 May 2002 90 55 10 
			 June 2002 65 25 5 
			 July 2002 90 65 10 
			 August 2002 75 60 10 
			 September 2002 65 45 5 
			 October 2002 90 45 10 
			 November 2002 115 55 10 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All figures are subject to change as more up to date data becomes available.
	2. Some appeals will be cleared without a hearing by an appeal tribunal.
	3. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	4. Figures are for all "bereavement/widow's benefits" and cannot be split into various components. Therefore figures will include Widow's Benefit appeals.
	Source:
	100 per cent download of the Generic Appeals Processing System.

Bereavement Payments

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2003, Official Report, column 365W, what the total (a) annual and (b) monthly expenditure by his Department and its predecessor on (i) bereavement allowance, (ii) bereavement payments and (iii) widowed parent's allowance has been since the introduction of bereavement benefit in April 2002; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2003, Official Report, columns 364–5W, what the total (a) annual and (b) monthly expenditure by his Department and its predecessor on (i) bereavement allowance, (ii) bereavement payments and (iii) widowed parent's allowance has been since the introduction of bereavement benefit in April 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is published in the Department Report, a copy of which is available in the Library.

Child Support Agency

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the running costs are of the (a) court-based child maintenance assessment system in the year prior to the introduction of the CSA and (b) CSA in the latest year for which he has data in today's price terms as a percentage of the total value of all maintenance assessments.

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not available in respect of the year prior to the introduction of the Child Support Agency. The available information is set out as follows:
	The White Paper "Children Come First" (Cm 1264) published in October 1990 indicated that the direct and indirect administration costs of the scheme then in place amounted, for the year 1989–90 and at 2001–02 prices, to £193 million.
	Comparable information on the total value of maintenance assessments for 1989–90 is not held.
	The Child Support Agency's administration costs were £285.5 million in 2001–02. This represented some 37 per cent. of the total value of the maintenance collected and arranged by the Agency in that year.
	Notes:
	1. The direct administration costs for the pre-CSA scheme include expenditure on assessments, variations in the level of assessments, enforcement and payment and collection.
	2. The indirect administration costs for the pre-CSA scheme take account of legal aid expenditure on aspects of ancillary relief in matrimonial proceedings, including, as well as child maintenance, matters such as spousal maintenance and property and other issues.
	3. The figures for the costs of the pre-CSA scheme are based on those given in Volume Two of the White Paper "Children Come First" (Cm 1264).
	4. The administration costs of the Child Support Agency for 2001–02 are drawn from the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts for the year.

Health and Safety Executive

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of the Health and Safety Executive has been in each year since it was established.

Nick Brown: The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		Cost of the Health and Safety Executive: 1974–2001
		
			  Cost (£000)(14) 
		
		
			 1974–76 30,353 
			 1976–77 37,660 
			 1977–78 42,363 
			 1978–79 46,505 
			 1979–80 55,728 
			 1980–81 69,898 
			 1981–82 72,882 
			 1982–83 80,143 
			 1983–84 85,651 
			 1984–85 89,942 
			 1985–86 92,386 
			 1986–87 94,325 
			 1987–88 93,532 
			 1988–89 89,626 
			 1989–90 96,060 
			 1990–91 119,625 
			 1991–92 157,334 
			 1992–93 170,922 
			 1993–94 174,550 
			 1994–95 176,359 
			 1995–96 178,011 
			 1996–97 177,847 
			 1997–98 178,090 
			 1998–99 176,952 
			 1999–2000 181,744 
			 2000–01 189,400 
			 2001–02 203,500 
		
	
	(14) The figures have been rounded to the nearest £000.

Health and Safety Executive

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been employed (a) in total and (b) in administrative roles by the Health and Safety Executive in each year since it was established.

Nick Brown: The information requested for the period between 1974–75 and 1982–83 is not fully available. The Health and Safety Executive's policy is to retain personnel data for six years. However, we have been able to extract the figures from HSE's annual reports apart from those areas marked as not available in the table.
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		Staff in post of the Health and Safety Executive: 1974–2001
		
			  Staff in post  Staff in post 
			  Total Administrative(15)  Total Administrative 
		
		
			 1974–75 3,500 n/a 1 April 1992 (16)4,321 1,609 
			 1975–82 n/a n/a 1 April 1993 4,538 1,646 
			 1 April 1983 3,593 n/a 1 April 1994 4,545 1,622 
			 1 April 1984 3,563 1,860 1 April 1995 4,391 1,595 
			 1 April 1985 3,616 1,911 1 April 1996 4,151 1,456 
			 1 April 1986 3,568 1,905 1 April 1997 4,077 1,412 
			 1 April 1987 3,573 1,846 1 April 1998 3,932 1,262 
			 1 April 1988 3,470 1,804 1 April 1999 3,880 1,139 
			 1 April 1989 3,525 1,836 1 April 2000 3,937 1,119 
			 1 April 1990 3,98 1,902 1 April 2001 3,894 1,027 
			 1 April 1991 (16)3,877 1,975 1 April 2002 4,050 964 
		
	
	(15) This information represents the number of non specialist staff employed by HSC/E, who are largely administrative support staff.
	(16) The increase in staff is due to a transfer of responsibilities for safety on the railways and offshore safety from Department of Transport and Department of Energy respectively.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 29 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. A. Smith.

Andrew Smith: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 25 March 2003.

Income Support Mortgage Interest Rate

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he has taken to eradicate the lag time inherent in setting of the income support mortgage interest rate.

Malcolm Wicks: Benefit help with mortgage interest payments is calculated using a Standard Interest Rate which is based on the weighted average of basic rates charged by the top building societies. The figure is calculated by the Financial Services Authority and published monthly in the Office for National Statistics' Financial Statistics table 7.1L. Changes in the rate are triggered by a 0.25 per cent. move in the published figure.
	We have no plans to change the current arrangements, which give effect to changes as quickly as is practicable. Once the information is received from the Office for National Statistics of an alteration in the interest rates, the Department immediately sets in motion the procedures to amend the relevant computer systems and legislation. Regulations are laid at least 21 days in advance of their coming into force to allow for proper parliamentary procedures to be followed. The same timetable applies when the standard interest rate increases as when it decreases.

Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilots

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent so far on the job retention and rehabilitation pilots; if he will list the pilots and their (a) costs and (b) locations; and how many pilots, in which locations, are planned for 2003–04.

Nick Brown: The Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot will run from April 2003 for up to two years. It will test the effectiveness of different intervention strategies in helping people return to work, and will be delivered in six sites: Birmingham, Greater Glasgow, Sheffield, Tyneside, Teesside and west Kent. The total cost of the pilot is anticipated to be £17.75 million of which £1,580,197 has been spent to date.

Lone Parents

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of lone parents refused to disclose the details of the father of their child (a) in the year prior to the introduction of the CSA and (b) in the latest year for which he has data.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration for the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my right hon. Friend.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Frank Field, dated March 2003
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You ask what percentage of lone parents refuse to disclose the details of the father of their child (a) in the year prior to the introduction of the CSA and (b) in the latest year for which he has data.
	I do not have the information to answer this fully. I do however have some relevant information in relation to sole parents who are in receipt of "prescribed benefits". They are obliged to provide information to the Agency. Some parents may not wish to provide this because they have a genuine fear of violence or intimidation from the other parents, or where there are child welfare issues, which would mean that it would not be prudent to contact the other parent. We do not press the parent with care to provide information about the alleged other parent if there are reasonable grounds to believe that to do so may harm or distress the parent with care or any child living with him or her—this is known as "good cause".
	Since 1 April 2002 around 12,000 applications for "good cause" have been accepted.

Lone Parents

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what barriers to work he has identified as facing lone parents in London more than in other regions.

Nick Brown: Understanding how employment constraints facing lone parents in London compare to other areas is complex. We have commissioned research into this issue 1 and this research found that lone parents in London reported the same barriers to work as lone parents elsewhere in the country.
	The three main barriers to moving into work reported by lone parents are availability and cost of child care, concerns about financial uncertainty on moving into work and the cost of housing and council tax. We have introduced a number of measures to help lone parents to overcome these barriers, including the National Childcare Strategy and Tax Credits, which are helping to make work possible and make work pay.
	We are continuing to examine the problems lone parents face when moving from benefit dependency into work and finding ways of helping them to overcome them. The New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) provides support tailored to the individual circumstances of lone parents, which takes into account any particular problems they face because of the area that they live in. NDLP has already helped over 160,000 lone parents move into work, including over 16,000 in London.
	1 "Investigating Low Labour Market Participation Among Lone Parents in London: A Review of the Methods" by William O'Connor and Richard Boreham published in November 2002 in DWP's In-house Research Report No 104.

Lone Parents

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average weekly payment for lone parents (a) not in receipt of income support and (b) in receipt of income support of child maintenance is as determined by the courts and the CSA (i) in the year prior to the introduction of the CSA and (ii) in the latest year for which he has data in current price terms.

Malcolm Wicks: Such information as is available is as follows:
	The average weekly payment of child maintenance in 1992 in cases where the lone parent was in receipt of Income Support was, in 2002 prices, £28.35.
	The average weekly payment of child support maintenance in 2002 in cases where the lone parent was not in receipt of Income Support was £43.70.
	The average weekly payment of child support maintenance in 2002 in cases where the lone parent was in receipt of Income Support was £36.23.
	Notes:
	1. For the estimates for 2002, the data is taken from quarterly 5 per cent. samples of the Child Support Computer System (CSCS) from February 2002 to November 2002 and so is subject to a degree of sampling error.
	2. The 2002 estimates are based on cases with Full Maintenance Assessments.
	3. For the 2002 estimates, cases where the maintenance assessments are at zero have not been included.
	4. For the 1992 estimate, information is drawn from the Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry, which is information at a point in time in the year; in 1992 the Annual Statistical enquiry took place in May.

Lone Parents

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of lone parents not in receipt of income support received regular maintenance payments for their children (a) in the year prior to the introduction of the CSA and (b) in the latest year for which he has data.

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not available for the year prior to the introduction of the CSA.
	In 2002, 64 per cent. of lone parents who are parents with care and who were not in receipt of Income Support received maintenance payments.
	Notes:
	1. Data is taken from the four quarterly 5 per cent. samples of the Child Support Computer System from February 2002 to November 2002 and so may be subject to a degree of sampling error.
	2. Payments in respect of both interim and full maintenance assessments are taken into account in the calculation.
	3. Cases where the parent with care receives payments directly from the non-resident parent and those where there has been no charge to the account during the quarter have not been included in the analysis.

Media Campaigns

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list those parts of his responsibilities which will be the subject of media campaigns in the coming six months.

Ian McCartney: Between March 2003 and August 2003 the following areas of responsibility are planned to the subject of paid advertising campaigns using the major media channels listed below:
	
		
			 Subject Medium 
		
		
			 Payment Modernisation TV, Press, Radio 
			 Pensions Education TV, Press 
			 Benefit Fraud TV, Press, Radio 
			 State Second Pension Press 
			 Jobcentre Plus Press, Radio 
			 Age Positive Press

Mental Illness

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support in finding employment is given by his Department to unemployed people suffering from mental illness.

Nick Brown: People with disabilities and health problems have full access to the services of Jobcentre Plus, and are offered meetings with their personal advisers to ensure they are aware of all the help and opportunities available to them.
	We have a wide range of programmes that have proved successful in helping people with disabilities, including mental health problems, secure work where they are ready and able to do so. For example, the New Deal for Disabled People is the first national employment programme focused on all Incapacity Benefit (IB) recipients. Through its network of over 60 Job Brokers across Great Britain the programme is proving successful, and by the end of December 2002 had helped 8,676 people into jobs.
	We are also removing barriers to work within the benefit system. Anyone claiming IB can now work for up to and including £20 a week for an unlimited period or work for less than 16 hours a week and earn up to and including £67.50 a week for 26 weeks. People with conditions that may be unlikely to improve over time, such as those with severe mental health problems, will continue to be able to work and earn up to £67.50 a week for as long as they are receiving IB.
	These arrangements have enabled people with many different disability-related barriers to work, including those with mental illness, to move successfully into jobs.

New Deal

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place a copy of the latest quantitative evaluation of the New Deal 50 plus in the Library.

Nick Brown: All evaluation reports on the New Deal 50 plus published by this Department are placed in the Library as a matter of course.

New Deal

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have enrolled in the New Deal for Disabled People; of them, how many have been enrolled in more than one programme; and how many have completed courses and moved into (a) permanent and (b) temporary employment.

Nick Brown: New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP), through its network of over 60 Job Brokers across England, Scotland and Wales, is helping people with health problems and disabilities to move into work.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		People helped into work through NDDP (July 2001 toDecember 2002)
		
			  Total 
		
		
			  
			  
			 People registering with a Job Broker 35,316 
			 People helped into work 8,676 
			 People achieving sustained work 2,330 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Sustained work is defined as the customer remaining in paid work for at least 26 out of 39 weeks.
	2. Information is not available for numbers of NDDP customers who have undertaken other programmes while registered with a Job Broker, or on the numbers of customers who have found temporary work.

New Deal

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents have agreed to participate in the New Deal for Lone Parents in London since its inception; how many and what percentage of participants have obtained employment; and what percentage of participants obtained employment in other regions in England.

Nick Brown: The information is in the table.
	
		
			 Region Number of participants in the New Deal for Lone Parents Participants who have gained employment Proportion of participants gaining employment (percentage) 
		
		
			 London 41,630 16,030 39 
			 Wales 21,170 11,200 53 
			 Scotland 32,560 17,230 53 
			 Yorkshire/Humberside 31,030 17,150 55 
			 West Midlands 28,300 13,960 49 
			 East Midlands 19,320 10,160 53 
			 East of England 21,020 10,990 52 
			 South West 26,640 14,570 55 
			 South East 31,180 16,050 51 
			 North East 18,290 10,160 56 
			 North West 45,500 24,130 53 
			 Great Britain 316,770 161,700 51 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data are provided for Jobcentre Plus regions
	2. Data are from the start of the national NDLP programme (October 1998) to September 2002.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database, DWP

Pensions

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions of those people estimated to be entitled to pension credit, how many and what proportion are expected to have made a claim and be in receipt of their entitlement by October 2004.

Ian McCartney: The Pension Service will be writing to all pensioner households to explain pension credit and invite applications. By 31 March, letters will have been sent to all MIG households letting them know we will convert their payment to pension credit automatically. Between April and September 2003, invites will be issued to around 20 per cent. of pensioner households with the remaining households targeted between October 2003 and June 2004. This systematic approach will be supported by regional and national advertising.
	As the Secretary of State has said in the House, we want as many pensioners as possible who are entitled to claim pension credit to do so. We have set a PSA target of having at least three million households in receipt of pension credit by 2006. We expect to have made good progress towards this target by October 2004, and our aim is to have reached at least 2.8 million or 73 per cent. of those eligible, in 2004. The number of eligible households is estimated, from research data, to be 3.8 million.

Pensions

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to help women who were allowed to pay reduced national insurance contributions to gain a full state pension.

Ian McCartney: We recognise that the majority of pensioners are women and are committed to ensuring that our pension reforms improve women's pension rights. We have already done much to help. The introduction of stakeholder pensions, State Second Pension, Winter Fuel Payments, improvements to the Minimum Income Guarantee and, from this October, Pension Credit are, or will be, of particular help to women.
	In the recent pensions Green Paper "Simplicity, security and choice: Working and saving for retirement", (Cm5677), we have proposed looking at how best to ensure that women are aware of their pension position and the choices they make.
	All married women are able to get a basic State Pension based on their husband's contributions of 60 per cent. of his entitlement once both have reached State Pension age and have claimed their State Pension.
	The married women who opted to pay reduced rate contributions made an informed choice. They were required to give written notice of their decision on a form attached to a leaflet. The leaflet went to great lengths to describe the consequences of that decision and required them to sign a declaration that they had read and understood the leaflet. Employers could not make this decision on behalf of their employees. Women who chose to pay reduced rate National Insurance contributions were given a certificate to give to their employer. An employer was not allowed to deduct reduced rate National Insurance contributions without this certificate.

Pensions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the differences between the rules on accruing entitlement to (a) the basic state pension and (b) the state second pension.

Ian McCartney: In order to become entitled to the basic State Pension, a person has to satisfy two conditions. The basic State Pension is available to both the employed and self-employed. In addition, anyone may make voluntary contributions, subject to a time limit, if this is necessary to build up entitlement.
	The first basic State Pension entitlement condition is that a person has either: one qualifying year since 6 April 1975 which is derived from the payment of Class 1, 2 or 3 National Insurance contributions or from Class 1 contributions treated as paid; or paid 50 flat rate contributions at any time before 6 April 1975.
	The second basic State Pension entitlement condition relates to the number of qualifying years a person has. Currently to get a full basic State Pension a man needs 44, and a woman 39, qualifying years. The number of qualifying years can be reduced if a person is entitled to Home Responsibilities Protection. The basic State Pension cannot be paid if a person has less than 25 per cent. of the qualifying years needed for a full State Pension.
	A qualifying year for the basic State Pension is a tax year in which a person receives, or is treated as receiving, qualifying earnings of at least 52 times the National Insurance Lower Earnings Limit for that year.
	In certain circumstances a person may be credited with earnings to help them get a State Pension if they do not have enough earnings in a tax year to reach the level needed to make it a qualifying year.
	The State Second Pension is only available to employees and to certain carers and people who are disabled or long-term ill.
	The entitlement condition to the State Second Pension depends on the level of earnings a person has, or is treated as having, between the Lower Earnings Limit and the Upper Earnings Limit in any tax year from 6 April 2002. Entitlement to the State Second Pension will be reduced or extinguished for any period where a person has contracted-out into an occupational or personal pension scheme.
	Only earnings on which Class 1 contributions have been paid, or treated as paid, count towards the State Second Pension. Earnings of married women and widows who pay contributions at the reduced rate do not count.
	Employees who earn above the Lower Earnings Limit but less than the Lower Earnings Threshold are treated as having earnings at the Lower Earnings Threshold. Certain carers and people who are disabled or long-term ill who earn less than the Lower Earnings Threshold, including those with no earnings at all, are also treated as having earnings at the Lower Earnings Threshold.

Benefit Fraud

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) referrals, (b) investigations and (c) successful prosecutions have resulted from calls to the National Benefit Fraud Hotline from 1997 to the most recent figures available.

Malcolm Wicks: The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Number of referrals Number of investigations Successful prosecutions 
		
		
			 January 1997 to March 1997 56,740 Not available(17) Not available(17) 
			 April 1997 to March 1998 139,666 Not available(17) Not available(17) 
			 April 1998 to March 1999 106,652 Not available(17) Not available(17) 
			 April 1999 to March 2000 109,489 28,582 335 
			 April 2000 to March 2001 (18)145,488 33,134 492 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 (18)150,340 32,943 703 
			 April 2002 to December 2002 (18)91,648 25,081 546 
		
	
	(17) Full information on the number of investigations and successful prosecutions resulting from calls to the National Benefit Fraud Hotline is available only from April 1999.
	(18) Figure includes all referrals from the National Benefit Fraud Hotline including calls received by the Call Centre Bureau, which since May 2000 has been contracted to answer calls outside normal working hours when the main hotline unit is closed.
	(19) The fraud database shows completed cases commenced in the relevant period. Due to the elapsed time between commencement of an investigation and completion of a prosecution there are cases which are inserted into previously completed data for earlier periods. All totals are therefore correct at the time when quoted but subject to adjustment at a later date.
	Source:
	National Benefit Fraud Hotline and Fraud Information By Sector system
	(20)

Benefit Fraud

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the (a) law enforcement and (b) other agencies involved in the investigation of benefit fraud; and what role his Department plays in co-ordinating their work.

Malcolm Wicks: The primary responsibility for the investigation of benefit fraud lies with Departmental investigators. Where appropriate, for example where the fraudster is committing other crimes that cross organisational boundaries, other law enforcement and public sector agencies provide assistance or work in partnership with our investigations.
	The law enforcement agencies with whom we work in partnership to tackle benefit fraud include the police and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. The Department and the Association of Chief Police Officers have recently signed an agreement setting out the principles for legitimate, mutual operational support, to enhance co-operation in the investigation of benefit crime.
	Other agencies who provide assistance or work in partnership with our investigations include local authorities, the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency, the National Asylum Support Service, the Inland Revenue, Trading Standards, the Passport Agency, the Health and Safety Executive, the Immigration and Nationality Division, and the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
	Co-ordination of all joint working is the responsibility of the Chief Investigation Officer, working as necessary with Regional Directors, to develop a unified approach with both local government and other Government Departments.

Poverty

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how his Department defines living in poverty; how many households (a) in the UK and (b) in each region are classified as having been in poverty in (i) 2000–01 and (ii) 2001–02; and how many households are expected to be in poverty in (A) 2002–03, (B) 2003–04, (C) 2004–05 and (D) 2005–06.

Malcolm Wicks: Poverty and social exclusion are complex and multi-dimensional issues, affecting many aspects of peoples' lives—including their living standards, health, housing, the quality of their environment and not just low income. The fourth annual 'Opportunity for all' report (Cm 5598) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents information on the indicators used to measure progress against this strategy. We do not publish forecasts of these indicators.
	Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in 'Households Below Average Income 1994–95—2001–02'.
	In April 2002 we published 'Measuring Child Poverty: a consultation document' to gather views on an appropriate measure of child poverty for the long term. This consultation was very well received and we plan to publish initial conclusions this spring.
	All publications listed are available in the Library.

Tax Credits (Departmental Website)

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason tax credits are no longer included in the benefit expenditure tables available on the Department's website.

Ian McCartney: The information was inadvertently omitted from Tables 1 and 2 of the Benefit Expenditure Tables on the Department's website. All the missing information is given in the following tables.
	The tables on the website have now been updated to include this information.
	
		Table 1: Nominal benefit and tax credit expenditure—pre-Budget report 2002 forecasts -- £ million, cash
		
			  War Pensions Northern Ireland expenditure Total United Kingdom expenditure Personal Tax Credits (expenditure component) Total United Kingdom benefit and tax credit expenditure 
		
		
			 1991–92 967 1,951 68,220 — 68,220 
			 1992–93 1,158 2,212 77,469 — 77,469 
			 1993–94 1,286 2,470 84,907 — 84,907 
			 1994–95 1,147 2,622 87,471 — 87,471 
			 1995–96 1,258 2,797 91,493 — 91,493 
			 1996–97 1,351 2,975 95,187 — 95,187 
			 1997–98 1,288 3,046 96,388 — 96,388 
			 1998–99 1,264 3,169 98,724 — 98,724 
			 1999–2000 1,256 3,285 102,338 1,097 103,435 
			 2000–01 1,396 3,346 104,660 4,648 109,308 
			 2001–02 1,231 3,551 109,893 4,845 114,738 
			 2002–03 1,187 3,706 114,383 5,665 120,048 
			 2003–04 1,148 3,847 119,306 7,823 127,129 
			 2004–05 1,107 3,919 121,931 11,310 133,241 
			 2005–06 1,091 4,075 126,525 12,600 139,126 
		
	
	Note:
	War Pensions, Northern Ireland, and Personal Tax Credits forecasts provided by HM Treasury. Historic information provided by the relevant Departments.
	
		Table 2: Real benefit and tax credit expenditure—pre-Budget report 2002 forecasts -- £ million, 2002–03 prices
		
			  War Pensions Northern Ireland expenditure Total United Kingdom expenditure Personal Tax Credits (expenditure component) Total United Kingdom benefit and tax credit expenditure 
		
		
			 1991–92 1,276 2,576 90,089 — 90,089 
			 1992–93 1,481 2,830 99,097 — 99,097 
			 1993–94 1,606 3,083 105,990 — 105,990 
			 1994–95 1,413 3,230 107,762 — 107,762 
			 1995–96 1,507 3,350 109,593 — 109,593 
			 1996–97 1,569 3,454 110,513 — 110,513 
			 1997–98 1,451 3,431 108,558 — 108,558 
			 1998–99 1,385 3,474 108,217 — 108,217 
			 1999–2000 1,344 3,516 109,526 1,174 110,700 
			 2000–01 1,462 3,503 109,583 4,867 114,450 
			 2001–02 1,262 3,640 112,641 4,966 117,606 
			 2002–03 1,187 3,706 114,383 5,665 120,048 
			 2003–04 1,123 3,762 116,681 7,651 124,332 
			 2004–05 1,056 3,739 116,340 10,791 127,132 
			 2005–06 1,016 3,793 117,779 11,729 129,508 
		
	
	Note:
	War Pensions, Northern Ireland expenditure and Personal Tax Credits expenditure provided by HM Treasury. Historic information provided by the relevant Departments. Figures converted to 2002–03 prices using the pre-Budget report out-turn, estimates and forecasts for the GDP deflator.

Top-up Fees

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 13 February 2003, Official Report, column 969W, on top-up fees, whether the projected repayment of student loans will be made on a calculation of net gross income.

Margaret Hodge: I have been asked to reply.
	Loans for fees would be repaid on the same basis as student loans for maintenance. Student loan borrowers are currently liable to repay their loans at a rate of 9 per cent. on all additional income over £10,000 a year. So for a graduate earning £15,000 they will repay at a rate of 9 per cent. on £5,000. The income taken into account in calculating student loan repayment is gross income (before deductions for tax, national insurance, or other payments deducted source, for example court orders).
	We propose to increase the repayment threshold from £10,000 to £15,000 in April 2005.

War Widows Pensions

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value of the income related benefits disregard for war widow's pension is; when it was last updated; and what the rise in the retail price index has been since that date.

Malcolm Wicks: Income-related benefits are intended to help people whose resources are insufficient to meet their day-to-day living expenses. Any income that is available to meet those expenses is normally taken fully into account. However, there is a special disregard in income-related benefits in respect of War Widow's Pension which was increased from £5 to £10 in April 1990. We believe that the current disregard strikes the right balance between acknowledging the special reasons for these pensions and prudent use of public funds.
	In addition to the £10 disregard referred to in the reply, local authorities have the discretion to disregard the full amount of War Widow's Pension in their calculation of entitlement to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
	Between April 1990 and January 2003 the percentage increase in the all items Retail Price Index has been 42.6 per cent.